John Bleasdale

Rev. Dr. John Ignatius Bleasdale (1822 – 1884) was an English-born Priest, Chemist and Mineralogist active in Australia and President of the Royal Society of Victoria in 1865.

Bleasdale was born in Lancashire, England and was educated at Preston. He trained as a clergyman (1835 to 1845), first at the English College, Lisbon, Portugal, then at St Mary’s College, Ascot, Birmingham. Following his ordainment by Cardinal Wiseman, Rev. Bleasdale served as a military chaplain in Britain. He arrived in Victoria (Australia) in 1851 and was appointed to the mission at Geelong.

Bleasdale was a foundation member of the Melbourne Microscopical Society, a fellow of the Geographical and Linnean societies and honorary member of Medical Society of Victoria. He was also one of the leading advocates for wine in Victoria.

Bleasdale migrated to California in 1877 and died in San Francisco in June 1884.

References

* [http://library.uws.edu.au/adt-NUWS/uploads/approved/adt-NUWS20060420.102152/public/04Chapter3.pdf Findings – Chronology of Wine as a Medicine] University of Western Sydney
* [http://www.asap.unimelb.edu.au/bsparcs/biogs/P003097b.htm Bleasdale, John Ignatius (1822 - 1884)] Bright Sparcs, University of Melbourne