John Boston

Infobox Person
name = John Boston
birth_date = Unknown
birth_place = flagicon|England
death_date = 30 September 1804
death_place = Tongatapu Island, Tonga flagicon|Tonga
death_cause = Killed
residence = Sydney
nationality = flagicon|Australia
known_for = Brewing a form of corn beer
occupation = Alleged trained surgeon and apothecary. Salt farmer, brewer and trader
spouse = 1 wife. Name unknown
children = 3 children. Names unknown

John Boston (died 1804), was a settler in Australia who was known for plying his hand at a number of different trades including salt farming and brewing. In 1796, with the aid of an encyclopaedia, Boston found that he could make a form of beer from Maize.

Early life

Australia bound

As a young man Boston hovered on the outskirts of the Birmingham circle of radicals and, like Joseph Priestley, became a staunch republican. Perhaps because of his political opinions he decided to leave 'reactionary England' in 1793, and in December recommended himself to the Colonial Office as a trained surgeon and apothecary, versed in the arts of brewing and with 'theoretical and some practical knowledge of agriculture'. The secretary of state agreed to his going, hoped he would prove useful, and urged Governor John Hunter to keep him. He sailed with his wife and three children in the "Surprize" [http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A010118b.htm The Australian Dictionary of Biography (Online Edition) ] which left Spithead (1794 May 2) going via Rio de Janeiro to Sydney (1794 Oct 25) [http://www.blaxland.com/ozships/year/arrive/1794/8.htm Convictions (Australian shipping 1788-1968)] .Having been sent out by government to supply the colony with salted fish, Boston had at some time offered to procure and salt fish for the settlement; but he required boats and men, and more assistance than it was possible to supply. He proposed to try his trade at Broken Bay [http://www.gutenberg.org/files/12565/12565-8.txt An Account of the English Colony in New South Wales, Volume 1, By David Collins] .

In Sydney town

In August 1795 due to the insufficient supplies of salted provisions, salt became scarce. Amongst other useful knowledge Boston professed to possess, he offered his skills at making salt from seawater. As it was much wanted, his offers were accepted and an eligible spot at Bennelong's Point (as the east point of the cove had long been named) had been chosen. He began his operations, for which he had seven convicts assigned to him, whose labour, however, only produced three or four bushels of salt in more than as many weeks [http://www.gutenberg.org/files/12565/12565-8.txt An Account of the English Colony in New South Wales, Volume 1, By David Collins] .

Brewing

In 1796 beer made at Sydney cost 1s 6d (1 shilling, 6 pence). This beer was being made by Boston and was brewed from properly malted Maize and bittered with the leaves and stalks of the love-apple, (Lycopersicum, a species of Solarium) or, as it was more commonly called in the settlement, the Cape gooseberry. Boston found this succeeded so well, that he erected at some expense a building for the business and was, engaged in brewing and making soap [http://www.gutenberg.org/files/12565/12565-8.txt An Account of the English Colony in New South Wales, Volume 1, By David Collins] .

References