THOMAS NEVIN sr and jr
JOHN PERKINS sr and jr.
W. R. GIBLIN portraits
John Perkins senior (1812-1877)
State Library of Tasmania
Hobart : J. W. Beattie, [19--]
Members of the Parliaments of Tasmania No. 98
Ref: AUTAS001125647909
Note: this photograph of John Perkins snr is wrongly attributed and wrongly dated by the State Library of Tasmania to John Watt Beattie (1859-1930). Beattie was still a teenager living in Scotland by the time of this man John Perkins senior's death in 1877. This image is a reprint by Beattie ca. 1900 of an earlier photographer's portrait of John Perkins senior which was probably taken by Thomas Nevin, given Nevin's support for John Perkins junior in the 1874 Municipal Council Elections, and through his Loyal United Brothers Lodge association and prison commission with William Robert Giblin, Attorney-General, who married Perkins' sister Emily Perkins in 1865.
Pledge of Support
On the 3rd December 1874, Thomas J. Nevin pledged his support in the upcoming Hobart Municipal Council elections for Alderman candidate John Perkins Junior Esq. The Mercury newspaper customarily printed these formal pledges as a discursive solicitation by the supporters, and then provided a lengthy list of their names every week until the close of the election.
To be an eligible supporter required social status and assets. Thomas Nevin supported a number of candidates in the course of two decades, and his name appeared regularly below the supporters' pledge, but this particular election stands out because his full name was recorded: Thos. [Thomas] Jas. [James] Nevin. This is one of the rare instances where his second name - James - appears in print. Earlier in the same year, 1874, his first son and second child was born and given his father's exact name - Thomas James Nevin (1874-1948). Known to his family and descendants therefore as "Sonny", he did not pursue his father's profession of photographer, and so is not to be confused with his father.
Undoubtedly, Thomas James Nevin's sights were set on extending his photographic career to include civil service with the Hobart Municipal Council, which he achieved in late 1875 with his appointment as Office-keeper and Hall-keeper of the Hobart Town Hall where the Mayor's Offices and the Council, the Municipal Police Office, and the Hobart Library were all housed under the one roof.
Mercury 3 December 1874
TRANSCRIPT
To JOHN PERKINS, Junior, Esq.,
LIVERPOOL STREET
SIR,
We, the undersigned, knowing how largely you are interested in all that pertains to the welfare of the City and of the Colony generally, and of your ability to render your fellow-citizens acceptable service in the Municipal Council, are induced to solicit you to become a candidate for one of the vacancies which will shortly take place by the retirement of three of the present Aldermen. Should you consent to be nominated for this office, we pledge ourselves to support your candidature, and to take the necessary steps to secure your election.
Source: Advertising (1874, December 3). The Mercury (Hobart, Tas. : 1860 - 1954), p. 3.
https://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article8933799
The W.R. Giblin Portrait
If the photographer's identity of John Perkins' portrait is uncertain, the photographer's identity of a portrait of his brother-in-law William Robert Giblin is certain. Thomas Nevin photographed Giblin ca. 1872-6. The original is held at the Archives Office of Tasmania:
W.R. Giblin ca. 1872-6
Photographer Thomas J. Nevin
Source: AOT Ref: NS1013-1-1971
When William Robert Giblin died in 1887, a search was conducted for a suitable photograph to use as the basis for a portrait in oils, to be executed preferably by a London artist. The following letter to the editor appeared in the Mercury, 27 January 1887 from someone calling himself "Mechanic" who knew where a suitable photograph could be found: in TREASURY, i.e. this photograph, which was the only one taken by a commercial photographer for government records. The article clearly was written by the photographer himself, so it can be assumed that "Mechanic" was no other than Thomas J. Nevin.
TRANSCRIPT
MR. GIBLIN'S PORTRAITSource: MR. GIBLIN'S PORTRAIT. (1887, January 27). The Mercury (Hobart, Tas.), p. 3.
SIR,- Now that Mr. Giblin has passed away, it is to be more deeply regretted that the many attempts to obtain a perfect enlarged photo. of him failed. The Imperial Co., of Melbourne, did its best; an artist of this city tried; and also Mr. Baily, of Liverpool-street; but the results unsatisfactory followed. It is fortunate, however, that Mr. Castray, the present treasurer, has in his possession an exquisite likeness of Mr. Giblin, and which could be copied in oils if entrusted to some artists, perhaps, in London. The cost would be about ₤80, and this, perhaps, might be obtained if two or three well-known citizens were to enter into the project. A series of concerts given at the Davey-street Church schoolroom would help the funds. The native population should also be proud of one of their number as to urge them on. In fact, there is hardly a class but what enjoys the benefits of Mr Giblin's past acts, either as a moralist, a social reformer, or a political legislator. -
Yours, etc.,
MECHANIC
Link: https://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article9130551