George Fife Angas

George Fife Angas (1 May 1789 – 15 May 1879) was an English businessman and banker who, while residing in England, played a significant part in the formation and establishment of the Province of South Australia. He established the South Australian Company and was its founding chairman of the board of directors. In later life he migrated to the colony and served as a member of the first South Australian Legislative Council. His financial contribution of some £40,000 was instrumental to the creation of South Australia. Early life Angas was born at Newcastle upon Tyne, England, fifth son of coachbuilder and ship owner Caleb Angas of Newcastle (1743–1831) and his second wife Sarah Angas née Lindsay (1749–1802). After his mother's death, Angas continued his education at a boarding school and at age 15, became an apprentice coachbuilder under his father's direction. He started the Benevolent Society of Coachbuilders in Newcastle in 1807 "to provide for sick members and others requiring relief, and promote habits of economy and temperance". In 1808, he went to London to gain further experience and returned to Newcastle in 1809 where he worked as a supervisor for his father's business. On 8 April 1812, in Hutton, Essex, he married Rosetta French (1793–1867), daughter of John French (1761–1829), "Gentleman of Hutton, Essex", and Rosetta French née Rayner (1756–1836). They had three sons and four daughters. Rosetta French Angas (1813-1898) Sarah Lindsay Angas (1816-1898), Australian temperance worker Emma Angas (1818-1885), caught smallpox and died while nursing refugees in Beirut George French Angas (1822-1886), artist John Howard Angas (1823-1904), Australian pioneer, politician and philanthropist Mary Ann Angas (1826-1831) William Henry Angas (1832-1870)