Sir William John Sowden (26 April 1858 – 10 October 1943) was a journalist in South Australia, who was knighted in 1918.
History.
Sowden was born in Castlemaine, Victoria, the son of Thomas Sowden (c. 1832 – 3 May 1888), a miner from Cornwall, and his wife Mary Ann, née Hocking. They spent some years in Kapunda, South Australia, where vast quantities of copper ore were being extracted, but by 1867 had returned to Castlemaine where he completed his schooling and started in the newspaper trade. In 1874 they moved to Moonta, South Australia, another mining town, where William started work with the "Yorke's Peninsula Advertiser", then in 1879 transferred to the "Port Adelaide News" (both owned by E. H. Derrington, whose feuds with Ebenezer Ward were legendary). In 1881 he started working for the "South Australian Register", and was selected to accompany a group of parliamentarians (J. Langdon Parsons, H. E. Bright, L. L. Furner, J. H. Bagster), Professor Ralph Tate and others, to the Northern Territory on the "Menmuir" (Captain Ellis) as a representative of the "Register". On his return he was given a position on the reporting staff and became chief leader writer in 1892. From 1897 to 1899 he was acting editor, subsequently editor, remaining in that position until his retirement in September 1922. He became part-owner of the "Register" in 1899.
He wrote, as "A. Pencil", a regular satirical column as city correspondent for the "Kapunda Herald", much as C. R. Wilton, as "Autolycus", wrote for the "Mount Barker Courier". He also wrote, as "A. Scribbler", a regular column "Echoes from the Smoking Room" for the "Register".
He retired around 1925 to "Castlemaine", the house designed by architect Henry Ernest Fuller in Victor Harbor, where he died.
Recognition.
He was knighted in 1918.
Bibliography.
In addition to his journalistic work, Sir William wrote numerous books:
Other interests.
Sir William was:
Sir William, who made several extensive tours abroad, was present in Westminster Abbey for the coronation of King George VI. He led a press delegation to England, accompanied by Sir James Fairfax.
In 1918 he visited the battlefields of Europe as guest of the Imperial Government.
His forthright manner and outgoing personality won for him many admirers, but also many enemies, among them Sir Samuel Way.
Family.
He married Letitia Grace "Letty" Adams (? – 9 April 1928) of "Corio", Oakleigh, Victoria on 28 April 1886; they had two sons.
He married again, to Margaret Ella Suttie of Mosman, New South Wales on 2 April 1929.
References.
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