Page:A Genealogical and Heraldic History of the Colonial Gentry Vol 2.djvu/220

 600 UrUKK'S COLOXIAI, CKXTIJY. Mr. Coppin was the tirst actor of any standing at lioiiie to play in the AustraHan colonics. He arrived in the ship '" Templar," at Sydney, 10th March, 184:J, where his tirst appearance at the Victoria Theatre took place, and after a successful eno'agemeut in Hobart Town, went to Launceston 3rd March, 1845, and became actor-manager at the Queen's Theatre, Melbonrnp, 21st June of that year. He commenced his management at Adelaide, South Australia, where he had built a theatre, '2nd November, 1846. The large fortune he had accumulated was lost in speculation in copper mining. After appearing in Geelong in 1852, he left for England in 1854, and acted with great success at the Royal Haymarket Theatre, London, and after a tour in Birmingham, Manchester, Edinburgh, and Dublin, he returned to Melbourne with his company, and acted at the Queen's Theatre there. He ]iurcliased the Old Theatre Royal, and the freehold of Cremorne Gardens, which l,e opened 3rd November, 1850, in which year he commenced the first grand opera season ever given in the colonies, in the Theatre Royal. He built the Pantheon Theatre and the Haymarket Theatre, and the present Theatre Royal. He engaged Mr. and Mrs. Charles Kean, and played them in Victoria, Sydney, and California, and returned to Melbourne 18th January, 186fi. Ho was twice elected chairman of the Richmond Municipality, acted for two years as chairman of the magistrates there, and was appointed territorial justice of the peace. He was elected to the Legislative Council for the South- western Province in 1858, was member of the Legislative Asrembly for East Melbourne from 1874 to 1889, in which year he was returned to the ITf)per House without opposition for Melbourne province. The two most important measures when first elected to the Legislative Council were "The Transfer of Real Property" and the English "Post OfEce Savings Bank," which have pj'oved of gi'eat advantage to the colony. Mr. Coppin was the founder cf the Victorian Post Office Savings Bank, the Old Colonists' Association, the Victorian Humane Society, and the Dramatic and Musical Association, aiid has long been a direclor of the Commercial Bank, as well as of many financial companies. Hincattc. William Coppin, of the Isle of Wigbt, was father of William Coppin, of Wotton. CO. Norfolk, who vi. Susauna, daughter of William Sceivexer, of Shottishara, co. Nor- folk, and bj her left issue, a son and heir, the Rev. William Coppin, of Wotton, co. Norfolk, who attested his pedigree at the Visitation of Norfolk in IGtjt. He m. Eliza- beth, daughter of Thomas Stone, of Bed- dmgham, co. Norfolk, and fiom him, it is claimed, descended, Eev. Selth Coppin, of Norwich, co. Nor- folk (wliose brother, James Coppin, who d. at Norwich, 183C, held considerable property in tiiat city, which, after descending to his brother Selth, his nephew George Selth, and ge Selth Coppin, was purchased for citv improremenls), rf. thei-o 3rd November, 1S31, aged 50 years, leaving by Anna, his wife (who d. luth Kebruary, 1826, aged 51 years), two sons, I. Geobge Selth, of whom presently. II. James, d. at Colchester, co. Essex. The elder son, George Selth Coppin, of Norwich, co. Norfolk, wlio first practised as a doctor in London, but disliking that profession, t.ook to the stage and entered into management, m. Mrs. Elizabeth Jane Jackson, of London (who d. 1809, aged 80 years), by whom lie left, at his decease in 1851, aged (JO years, a son, Geoege Selth, of whom we trciit. the present Hon. Geor J^rms — Per pale as. a.id (/u. three boars' heads coiiped or. Crest — Out of a ducal coronet or a demi griffin azure beaked and legged of ilic fir.il Motto — l^sse quam videri. Residences — {Tovtn.) Pine Grove, Richmond Hill, near Melbourne. (Country.) Anchorage, Sorrento-ou-the-Sea, Victoria. The