Kingsley, Henry (1830–1876)

English novelist and younger brother of Charles Kingsley. He wrote two novels with Australian settings – The Recollections of Geoffry Hamlyn 1859 and The Hillyars and the Burtons 1865, both emigrant success stories – and used Australian material in several others. His masterpiece is Ravenshoe 1861.

He was born in Barnack, Northamptonshire, and studied at King's College, London, and Worcester College, Oxford. In 1853 he went to the Australian goldfields. Returning 1858, he began to write novels. From 1869 he edited the Edinburgh Daily Review, and acted as war correspondent for the paper during the fighting between France and Germany 1870–71. A highly competent writer, Henry has always remained in Charles's shadow critically.