Hugh Dixson (1841 - 1926)

Born 29 Jan 1841 in George-street, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Ancestors

Husband of Emma Elizabeth (Shaw) Dixson — married 3 Jul 1866 in Raymond Terrace, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Died 10 May 1926 at age 85 in Colombo, Ceylon (now Sri Lanka)

Biography

HUGH DIXSON (Dixson-106)

PARENTS. Hugh Dixson & Helen (Craig) Dixson

BIRTH. 29 Jan 1841, George-street, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

MARRIAGE. 3 Jul 1866, Raymond Terrace, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

MARRIAGE. 3 Jul 1866, Emma Elizabeth Shaw, daughter of William Edward Shaw & Emma Leigh (Coombe) Shaw

MARRIAGE. NSW BDM Marriage Reg: #3008/1866: DIXSON HUGH; SHAW EMMA E; District of RAYMOND TERRACE

MARRIAGE. On the 3rd instant, by the Rev. Frederick Hibberd, at the residence of the bride's father, HUGH, eldest son of HUGH DIXSON, Esq., York-street, Sydney, to EMMA ELIZABETH, eldest daughter of EDWARD WILLIAM SHAW, Esq., Raymond Terrace.

Children:

(1) Hugh Dixson, b. 12 Jun 1868, d. 16 Feb 1904, m. 25 Feb 1891, Alice Fitzmaurice, daughter of George Robert Fitzmaurice & Mary (Torode/Tarode) Fitzmaurice

(2) William Dixson, b. 18 Apr 1870, d. 17 Aug 1952, never married

(3) Emma Shaw Dixson, b. 29 May 1872, d. 19 Nov 1930, m. 14 Dec 1892, Ronald Keep, son of Edward Keep & Janet (Ronald) Keep

(4) Helen Craig Dixson, b. 21 Sep 1874, d. 1961, m. 20 Oct 1897, Horatio Seymour Eaton, son of William Seymour Eaton & Elizabeth Harriet (Fillmore) Eaton

(5) Archibald Dixson, b. 29 Sep 1876, d. 15 Feb 1912, m. 5 Apr 1904, Myrtle Augusta Ballenger, daughter of John Richard Ballenger & Bertha Emma/Emerson (Farmilo) Ballenger

(6) Christian Rowe Dixson, b, 4 Feb 1879, d. 1972, m. 22 Nov 1902, Arthur John Rowe Thornett, son of John Thornett & Marian Rowe (Sweetser) Thornett

(7) Robert Craig Dixson, b. 2 Jul 1881, d. 17 Sep 1958, m. 8 Apr 1922, Eva Thelma Eleanor Holland, daughter of George Henry Holland & Eva Louise (Dawborn) Holland

(8) Twin Marion Leigh Dixson, b. 6 Aug 1884, d. 3 Jun 1967, m. 9 Oct 1907, Chester Wells, son of son of Levi Wells & Helen Susan (Jones) Wells

(9) Twin Thomas Audley Dixson, b. 6 Aug 1884, d. 6 Nov 1884

(10) Thomas Storie Dixson, b. 4 Sep 1886, d. 8 Dec 1916, m. 23 Nov 1910, Ruby Agnes Howard Turland, daughter of John Henry Turland & Eliza Jane (Owen) Turland

Death of Spouse: 12 Apr 1922, Abergeldie, Summer Hill, New South Wales, Australia

DEATH. 10 May 1926, Colombo, Ceylon

DEATH. NSW BDM Death Reg: #1926/1926 DIXSON HUGH (SIR) HUGH HELEN C NORTH SYDNEY

DEATH. DIXSON.—May 10, at Colombo, Sir Hugh Dixson, of Abergeldie, Summer Hill. The body will be brought to Australia. Notice of the Funeral will be advertised about June 16.

OBITUARY. SIR HUGH DIXSON. DEATH ANNOUNCED.

News has been received by private cable that the death had occurred at Colombo of Sir Hugh Dixson, of Abergeldie, Summer Hill. Sir Hugh Dixson was born in George-street, city opposite St Andrew's Cathedral, on January 29. 1841 The greater part of his life was spent in Sydney. His education was obtained at Mr, Cape's Academy at Paddington. On leaving school he was employed as a clerk at a timber business, and afterwards in a bond store.

During this period his father was a tobacco manufacturer, having premises in George-street, and a factory at Wynyard-square. When still a youth, Sir Hugh joined his father, and with the years the business grew to large dimensions, probably the greatest of Its kind in Australia Afterwards the premises were situated In York-street, and then Castlereagh-street, and while at the former Sir Hugh and his brother entered Into partnership with their father, whose death occurred In 1880.

Thereafter Sir Hugh had new and large premises built at the corner of Park and Elizabeth streets, where the T. and G Building now stands, and this became known as Dixson's Corner. Subsequently the firm became merged in the British-Australasian Tobacco Co. Proprietary, Ltd. Some years ago the Dixson Trust, embracing the family interests, was formed and Sir Hugh retired from business, and from active association with other concerns, having been at one time chairman of the City Bank, as well as of the Alliance Insurance Company.

It was during the late Sir Harry Rawson's term, as Governor of New South Wales that Sir Hugh brought forward the proposal that Australia should lend her support to the British Navy by means of a gift battleship, and backed his suggestion in a practical way by inaugurating a fund with a cheque for £5000. The Governor favoured the scheme, but Mr. Wade (later Sir Charles), who was then Premier, opposed it, and eventually It failed. But the fund which Sir Hugh originated was, and is being, devoted to a valuable purpose, provision being made with it for the educating of English boys at Australian agricultural colleges.

Sir Hugh Dixson was a prominent member of the Baptist Church, and made generous contributions to Its funds. He was president or the Baptist Union of 1895-96, and was president of the Baptist Home Mission Society at the time of his death. He was also a one time president of the Young Men's Christian Association, in whose work he took a keen Interest. Both Sir Hugh and the late Dame Emma Dixson were connected actively with various charitable institutions, and Sir Hugh was on the board of directors of the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital. Dame Emma Dixson was the founder of the Sydney Medical Mission, at Surry Hills, which has since changed its activities to the Child Welfare Association.

Together with Dame Emma Dixson, Sir Hugh gave £20,000 about five years ago toward the erection of the cancer home in connection with the Home for Incurables at Ryde.

Sir Hugh left two sons and four daughters -- Mr William Dixson and Mr Robert Dixson (both prominently associated with the Dixson Trust) and Mrs C. R. Thornett, Mrs H. C. Eaton, Mrs. E. E. Keep, and Mrs. M. L. Wells. A son, Lieutenant Thomas Disxon, of the Coldstream Guards was killed in action in the late war. The death of Dame Emma Dixson occurred in April, 1922.

The body of Sir Hugh Dixson will be brought to Sydney and buried here.

Sources

• Marriage Notice: The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954) Mon 9 Jul 1866, Page 1: http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/13133575

• Death Notice: The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954) Thu 13 May 1926, Page 8: http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/16291850

• Obituary: The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954) Thu 13 May 1926, Page 10: http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/16291673