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James Edward Neild

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James Edward NeildL.S.A.(Lond.), M.D., Ch.M. (Melb.), (6 July 1824 – 17 August 1906) was an English-born Australian forensic pathologist, drama critic, medical editor and journalist.[1]

Early life

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Neild was born inDoncaster,Yorkshireand is descended from an Irish family who emigrated to England in 1642. He received his early education inLeeds,and in 1843 he went to Sheffield to his uncle, a surgeon in extensive practice there, to whom he was apprenticed for five years. Subsequently, he completed his medical studies atUniversity College, London.He passed his examination in 1848, and for two years was in practice atOulton, West Yorkshire,near Leeds. He was then for three years house surgeon of theRochdaleGeneral Dispensary.[2]

Career in Australia

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In 1853 Neild followed the gold rush toVictoria,and practised surgery for a time, but ultimately decided to stay inMelbourne,where he went into business as a chemist and druggist. In 1855, in company withR. H. Horneand others, he founded Melbourne'sGarrick Club.That same year he became a reporter on the MelbourneAge,then only just started. After ceasing regular connection with theAge,he contributed a good many occasional theatrical notices to that paper. He was engaged byT. L. Brightto write theatre criticism for his magazineMy Notebook(1856–1859), then the proprietors of theArgusissued theExaminerin 1857, with Bright as its first editor, and for upwards of two years Neild wrote the theatrical criticisms under the signature of "Christopher Sly". UltimatelyThe Examiner,The Yeoman,andThe Weekly Arguswere blended into one, under the title ofThe Australasian,in which Dr. Neild continued to do the theatrical criticism under the signature of "Jaques" or "Jacques" and in more recent times under thenom de plumeof "Tahite". He also used "Cleofas" and "The Grumbler".[3]His connection with theArgus,which belonged to the same proprietary as theAustralasian,commenced in 1868, and he also contributed toMelbourne Punchand other papers. In 1864 he retired from the business as a chemist which he had carried on meanwhile, and resumed the practice of his profession. Almost coincidentally he accepted the editorship of theAustralian Medical Journal,and began to take an active part as a member of theMedical Society of Victoria,of which in 1868 he was elected president, and of which he was subsequently honorary secretary. In 1864 he took the degree of M.D. in theUniversity of Melbourne,and the following year was appointed lecturer onforensic medicine. He continued to contribute toThe Australasian,and was in 1868 the target of a threat by J. H. Leroy, husband of the actress Madame Marie Duret, after an adverse notice.[4] Neild was the author of several novelettes, and had two comediettas successfully placed upon the stage.

Neild was a founder of theMelbourne Shakespeare Society,being president in 1890. Also in 1890, Neild was given a public testimonial at thePrincess Theatrewith his friendGeorge Selth Coppinpresiding. This was to recognise his many public services, particularly to the theatre.[1]He was hugely influential in theatrical circles, described as a "dictator in Melbourne theatrical affairs".[5]He wrote the dedication poem for theBijou Theatrein November 1876, read byG. B. W. Lewis.[6]

Family

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In 1857 Neild married the eldest daughter of D. R. Long.[2]Their daughter Caroline "Carrie" Neild (died 29 July 1927), also known by her stage name Carrie Bilton, toured professionally for many years, notably inRobbery Under ArmsforAlfred Dampier.[5]

Neild died in Melbourne, Victoria on 17 August 1906.[1]Several of his scrapbooks, previously considered lost or destroyed, have come to light and are now held by theState Library of Victoria.They reveal the pleasure Neild took in the ignominious downfall suffered by many of the targets of his more malicious criticisms. The scrapbooks also contained critiques ofCheckmated,a poorly writtenroman à clefabout Neild's illicit lovelife, written by Mrs. T. P. Hill, née Cecelia Ayliffe (1838–1915) well-connected daughter of South Australian pioneer Dr.George Ayliffe.[7]

References

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  1. ^abcGandevia, Bryan."Neild, James Edward (1824–1906)".Australian Dictionary of Biography.Canberra: National Centre of Biography,Australian National University.ISBN978-0-522-84459-7.ISSN1833-7538.OCLC70677943.Retrieved30 December2012.
  2. ^abMennell, Philip(1892)."Neild, James Edward".The Dictionary of Australasian Biography.London: Hutchinson & Co – viaWikisource.
  3. ^Graeme Skinner."Austral Harmony: James Neild".Retrieved31 August2021.
  4. ^"Threatening a Critic".The Newcastle Chronicle.Vol. XI. New South Wales, Australia. 14 November 1868. p. 2.Retrieved8 September2021– via National Library of Australia.
  5. ^ab"The Late Carrie Neild".The Record (Melbourne).Vol. XXXII, no. 32. Victoria, Australia. 13 August 1927. p. 7.Retrieved14 August2021– via National Library of Australia.
  6. ^"Opening of the Academy of Music".The Argus (Melbourne).No. 9, 485. Victoria, Australia. 7 November 1876. p. 6.Retrieved23 August2021– via National Library of Australia.
  7. ^Mimi Colligan."Theatre in the Neild Scrapbooks".State Library Victoria.Retrieved15 September2016.
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