Robert Richardson (poet)

{{Short description|Australian poet and writer for children}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}}

{{Infobox writer

| name = Robert Richardson

| image = Robert Richardson.png

| image_size =

| image_upright =

| alt = Robert Richardson

| caption = Robert Richardson

| birth_name =

| birth_date = {{Birth date|1850|1|7|df=y}}

| birth_place = Colony of New South Wales

| death_date = {{Death date and age|1901|10|04|1850|01|07|df=y}}

| death_place = Armidale, New South Wales, Australia

| occupation = writer and store-keeper

| language = English

| nationality = Australian

| ethnicity =

| citizenship =

| education =

| alma_mater =

| notableworks =

| awards =

| years_active = 1875–1901

}}

Robert Richardson (1850–1901) was an Australian journalist, poet and writer for children, possibly the first Australian-born children's writer.[http://www.austlit.edu.au/austlit/page/A1236 Austlit - Robert Richardson] He was born in New South Wales, eldest son of John Richardson, a New South Wales politician and store-keeper, and Janet, sister of Peter Nicol Russell.[http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/richardson-john-4474 Australian Dictionary of Biography - Richardson, John (1810–1888)]

Richardson completed a B.A. at the University of Sydney and later became well known for his contributions to a number of Sydney and Australian periodicals and newspapers. He was also a member of the firm of Richardson and Company, an Armidale-based millers and general store-keepers, started by his father.[http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article112574525 "The Late Mr Robert Richardson" Evening News, 5 October 1901, p4]

Mark Twain adapted the final stanza of his poem Annette for Twain's daughter's headstone. http://www.twainquotes.com/headstone.html

He left Australia for a life in Edinburgh in 1886 before returning to Sydney around 1894. He died in Armidale on 4 October 1901.{{Cite news|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article237386611|title=Death of Mr. Robert Richardson.|date=1901-10-05|work=Daily Telegraph (Sydney, NSW : 1883 - 1930)|access-date=2019-04-18|pages=9}}