Born in London on 15 October 1848, second son of George Langdon Bonython, carpenter and builder, and his wife Ann, née McBain. The family arrived in South Australia in July 1854. Bonython attended Brougham School, North Adelaide, and in 1864 joined the Advertiser as a reporter. His abilities were recognized by J. H. Barrow, the editor, who soon put him in charge of the literary staff.
On 24 December 1870 Bonython married Mary Louisa Fredericka Balthasar in Adelaide; they had eight children of whom three daughters and three sons survived infancy.
In 1902-37 he gave £22,750 to the School of Mines and Industries, £20,000 to the University of Adelaide in 1926 to endow a chair of law, and £50,000 in 1930-34 for the erection of the Bonython Hall.
He died on 22 October 1939, aged 91, and after a service in St Peter's Anglican Cathedral and state funeral he was buried in West Terrace cemetery.
Biographical SourceAustralian Dictionary of Biography, Volume 7, (MUP), 1979
Personal Details
TitleSirDate of Birth15 October 1848Date of Death22 April 1905NationalityEng
POSITION
Position TitleUniversity Council MemberDates1895End Date of Person1902
POSITION
Position TitleRoseworthy Agricultural College ChairmanDates1916End Date of Person1939
