# John Henry Chinner

John Henry Chinner (30 June 1865 – 15 December 1933) was a South Australian artist, best known for his caricatures of prominent people.

## History

Chinner was born in Brighton, South Australia, son of George Williams Chinner (c. 1824 – 27 May 1880), and his second wife Mary Chinner, née Edwards.
    Chinner, pḕre, arrived in SA before 1847, had a drapery shop on Rundle Street. He married Caroline Bowen (c. 1831 – 29 April 1861) on 6 April 1849. By 1859 he was a Hindley Street publican, Mayor of Brighton in 1860 and longtime councillor. He married Mary Edwards on 8 September 1863.
In 1879 he was enrolled at Prince Alfred College as a boarder, and later was a prominent batsman in the annual cricket match against St Peter's College.
    This was the start of a lifelong commitment as an active member and finally president of the PAC Old Collegians' Association, longtime member of the College Committee and for 22 years the Council's Honorary Secretary.
The family moved to Parkside around 1880 and Chinner became involved with the local church literary society, taught bible classes, and was promoted by Alfred Catt to Sunday school superintendent. His devout, methodical, serious nature and no-nonsense leadership style made the Parkside Wesleyan Methodist Sunday school an example that other churches sought to emulate. His admiration for the Song of Australia as a National Anthem was tempered by Caroline Carleton's lack of reference to God, which Chinner made good with an additional verse:
   There is a land, a morning land, Which rose from nought at God's command, Where peace and truth stand hand in hand; Australia! Lord, purge these shores suffused with light From sins abhorrent to Thy sight, Guard Thou with all Thy gracious might, Australia! Australia! Australia!
His interest in caricature was first shown with contributions to the Literary Society's magazine, in which he published sketches of fellow-members, and it was not long before his work was to be seen in the pages of Quiz, The Bulletin and London Punch. He was a Fellow of the South Australian Society of Arts, and was urged by H. P. Gill to make a profession of his hobby.
Outside these interests he was an accountant — he was for 31 years Adelaide manager for the Atlas Insurance Company, retiring in January 1925.

## Notable Citizens

Chinner produced a series of around 250 caricatures between 1923 and 1928 for the Adelaide Saturday Journal, No. 1 being of the South Australian Governor, Sir Tom Bridges.
Many of these were also carried by sister-publications The Register and The Observer.
The last of the series may have been of Charles Bastard, lessee of Adelaide's City Baths. Around 180 of these are listed below:
| Name | Relevant article | Notes |
| Chinner monograms | This article | |
| Abe Shannon | Abe Shannon | pastoralist philanthropist |
| Albert Ernest Clarkson | H. L. Vosz | glass merchant |
| Albert James Hannan | Albert James Hannan | Crown Solicitor |
| Alec Bagot | Alec Bagot | politician |
| Alexander John McLachlan | Alexander McLachlan | |
| Alexander Vigors Benson | A. V. Benson | Port Adelaide Racing Club |
| Alfred Austin Lendon | A. A. Lendon | medico |
| Alfred C. Minchin | A. C. Minchin | zoo director |
| Alfred Edward Simpson | Alfred Edward Simpson | architect |
| Alfred Jabez Roberts | A. J. Roberts | business, sport |
| Alfred Norwood Day | A. N. Day | railways |
| Alick J. Murray | Alick J. Murray | pastoralist |
| Andrew Alexander Kirkpatrick | Andrew Kirkpatrick | |
| Andrew Douglas Young | Andrew Douglas Young | stockbroker |
| Angas Johnson | Angas Johnson | city health officer |
| Archibald Thomas Strong | Archibald Strong | scholar, poet |
| Arnold Edwin Victor Richardson | A. E. V. Richardson | |
| Arthur Graham Rymill | Arthur Graham Rymill | |
| Arthur Nutter Thomas | A. Nutter Thomas | |
| Arthur V. Kewney | Arthur V. Kewney | Victoria Racing Club |
| Benno Seppelt | Benno Seppelt | winemaker |
| Albert Edwin Hamilton | A. E. Hamilton | accountant, rose fancier |
| Bert Hinkler | Bert Hinkler | |
| Brailsford Robertson | Thorburn Brailsford Robertson | Adelaide Uni |
| Brian Wibberley | Brian Wibberley | Methodist |
| Cecil Thomas Madigan | Cecil Thomas Madigan | |
| Charles Bastard | Charles Bastard | manager, City Baths |
| Charles Edward Goldsmith | None | Savings bank |
| Charles Edward Owen Smyth | C. E. Owen Smyth | |
| Charles Fenner | Charles Fenner | technical education |
| Charles Hawkes Todd Connor | None | mill owner |
| Charles Howard Angas | Charles Howard Angas | |
| Charles Richmond Glover | Charles Richmond Glover | |
| Clem Hill | Clem Hill | |
| Coleman Phillipson | Coleman Phillipson | International Law |
| Darnley Naylor | Darnley Naylor | |
| David John Gordon | David Gordon | |
| Donald Reid | James Marshall & Co. | merchant |
| Douglas Mawson | Douglas Mawson | geologist |
| E Harold Davies | E. Harold Davies | |
| Ebenezer Daniel Hedley Virgo | None | stockowners' representative |
| Edgar John Field | None | public servant |
| Edgar Ravenswood Waite | Edgar Ravenswood Waite | |
| Edward Allan Farquhar | Edward Allan Farquhar | |
| Edward Erskine Cleland | Edward Erskine Cleland | lawyer |
| Edward Henry Rennie | Edward Rennie | |
| Edward Holdsworth Sugden | Edward Holdsworth Sugden | |
| Edward Howard Bakewell | E. H. Bakewell | |
| Edward Julius | Edward Julius | forestry |
| Edward Lucas MLC | Edward Lucas | |
| Edward S. Kiek | Edward S. Kiek | Congregationalist |
| Edward Wheewall Holden | Edward Holden | |
| Edwin Mitchell Smith | Edwin Mitchell Smith | surveyor-general |
| Ernest Maurice Sabine | None | police magistrate |
| Ernest Pringle Ramsay | Ernest Pringle Ramsay | deputy postmaster-general |
| Ferdinand Lucas Parker | F. L. Parker | parliamentary clerk |
| Francis Villeneuve Smith | Francis Smith | |
| Frank Lymer Gratton | Frank Lymer Gratton | 1000 voice choir conductor |
| Frank Marlow | Frank Marlow | secretary football league |
| Frank Moulden | Frank Beaumont Moulden | |
| Frank Sandland Hone | Frank Sandland Hone | |
| Frederic Wood Jones | Frederic Wood Jones | |
| Frederick Allen Lakeman | James Marshall & Co. | merchant |
| Frederick Charles Bevan | Frederick Bevan | Conservatorium |
| Frederick George Scarfe | George Scarfe | of Harris, Scarfe & Co |
| Frederick Taylor Whitington | Fred T. Whitington | |
| Frederick William Birrell | Frederick William Birrell | |
| Frederick William Bullock | Frederick William Bullock | |
| Frederick William Richards | Frederick William Richards | |
| George A. J. Webb | George A. J. Webb | |
| George Brookman | George Brookman | |
| George Davidson (minister) | George Davidson | Presbyterian |
| George Edward Young | George Edward Young | |
| George Frederick Claridge | George Frederick Claridge | home for incurables |
| George Frederick Jenkins | George Frederick Jenkins | |
| George Giffen | George Giffen | |
| George Hubert Wilkins | George Hubert Wilkins | |
| George McEwin | George McEwin | councillor |
| George Richards Laffer | George Richards Laffer | |
| Gordon Richardson | Gordon Richardson | |
| Hans Heysen | Hans Heysen | |
| Harold Edward Winterbottom | Harold Edward Winterbottom | Chamber of Manufactures |
| Harold Gordon Darling | Harold Gordon Darling | |
| Harold Jack Finnis | | Royal Agric. Soc. |
| Harold Septimus Power | Harold Septimus Power | |
| Harry Dove Young | Harry Dove Young | |
| Henri Benedictus van Raalte | H. van Raalte | Art Gallery |
| Henry Barwell | Henry Barwell | |
| Henry Tassie MLC 01 | Henry Tassie | |
| Henry Thomas (miller) | Henry Thomas | |
| Herbert Allchurch | | police prosecutor |
| Herbert Henry Ernest Russell | | OBE |
| Herbert Mathew Hale | | museum |
| Hermann Koeppen Wendt | | |
| Horace Percy Beaver | | town clerk |
| Immanuel Gotthold Reimann | Immanuel Gotthold Reimann | |
| James Arthur Seymour | | Chalmer's church |
| James Ashton | James Ashton | |
| James Gartrell | James Gartrell | |
| James Hall | | horse racing |
| James Hay Gosse | James Hay Gosse | |
| James Jelley | James Jelley | |
| James Marshall | James Marshall & Co. | |
| James McGuire (railways) | James McGuire | |
| James Percy Morice | | clerk of parliament |
| James Richard Fowler | | |
| James Sadler | | |
| James Walters Kitto | | deputy PMG |
| James Wigham McGregor | | manufacturer |
| John Baird, Lord Stonehaven | John Baird, 1st Viscount Stonehaven | |
| John Cowan MLC | John Cowan | |
| John Frederick Bailey | John Frederick Bailey | |
| John George Bice | John George Bice | |
| John Gunn MHA | John Gunn | |
| John Henry Chinner | (this article) | artist, by his son |
| John Lloyd Price | John Lloyd Price | |
| John Marshall Reid | | |
| John McInnes MHA | John McInnes | |
| John Millard Dunn | John Millard Dunn | |
| John Sincock | | govt reporting staff |
| John Stoward Moyes | John Stoward Moyes | |
| John Verran | John Verran | |
| John White (South Australian painter) | John White | |
| Joseph Verco | Joseph Verco | |
| Josiah Symon | Josiah Symon | |
| Julian Bickersteth | Julian Bickersteth | |
| Kerr Grant | Kerr Grant | |
| Lachlan McTaggart | | pastoralist |
| Lancelot Stirling | Lancelot Stirling | |
| Laurence Hotham Howie | Laurence Hotham Howie | |
| Legh Winser | Legh Winser | |
| Lennon Raws | John Garrard Raws | Chamber of Commerce |
| Leslie Penfold-Hyland | Leslie Penfold Hyland | |
| Leslie Salter | | dried fruits board |
| Leslie Wilkie | Leslie Wilkie | |
| Lewis Cohen (mayor) | Lewis Cohen | |
| Lionel Gee | | Mines Department |
| Lionel Laughton Hill | Lionel Laughton Hill | |
| Lionel Lindsay | Lionel Lindsay | |
| Malcolm McIntosh MHA | Malcolm McIntosh | |
| Maxwell Gavin Anderson | | of Orient Line |
| Mellis Napier | Mellis Napier | |
| Napier Kyffin Birks | Napier Kyffin Birks | |
| Noel Augustin Webb | | federal arbitration court |
| Norman Jolly | Norman Jolly | |
| Norman Murray Gladstone Gratton | | Scotch College |
| Oscar Seppelt | | |
| Oswald Vick Hoad | | military commander |
| Owen Forbes Phillips | Owen Phillips | base commander Brig-Gen |
| Owen Hindmarsh Stephens | | electoral college |
| P. William Vaughan | None | Commonwealth Bank |
| Patrick McMahon Glynn | Patrick McMahon Glynn | |
| Percy William Charlton Wise | Percy W. Wise | canon Wise |
| Raymond Lionel Leane | Raymond Lionel Leane | |
| Reginald Robert Stuckey | | under-treasurer |
| Reginald Victor Wilson | Reginald Victor Wilson | |
| Richard Butler MHA | Richard Butler | |
| Richard Layton Butler | Richard Layton Butler | |
| Richard William Bennett | | judge |
| Robert Duncan | | |
| Robert Hugh Crawford | Robert Hugh Crawford | |
| Robert Scott Young | | Bank of Adelaide |
| Robert William Chapman (engineer) | Robert William Chapman | |
| Samuel Albert White | Samuel Albert White | |
| Samuel Henry Prior | Samuel Prior | of The Bulletin |
| Samuel James Mitchell | Samuel James Mitchell | |
| Samuel Joshua Jacobs | Samuel Joshua Jacobs | |
| Samuel Perry | Samuel Perry | |
| Sid Torr | | racehorse owner |
| Sidney Kidman | Sidney Kidman | |
| Stanley Bruce | Stanley Bruce | |
| Stanley Price Weir | Stanley Price Weir | |
| Sydney Talbot Smith | Sydney Talbot Smith | |
| Theodore George Bentley Osborn | Theodore George Bentley Osborn | |
| Thomas Henry Jones | Thomas Henry Jones | |
| Thomas Pascoe MLC | Thomas Pascoe | |
| Thomas Payne Bellchambers | | naturalist |
| Thomas Shuldham O'Halloran KC | Thomas Shuldham O'Halloran KC | |
| Thomas Slaney Poole | Thomas Slaney Poole | |
| Tom Bridges | Tom Bridges | |
| Victor Ryan | | tourist bureau |
| W. G. T. Goodman | W. G. T. Goodman | |
| Wallace Bruce | | |
| Wallace Sandford | Wallace Sandford | |
| Walter Edwards Chinner | | of Wilkinson & Co. |
| Walter Ernest Rogers 01 | | auditor-general |
| Walter Gill | Walter Gill | |
| Walter Gordon Duncan | Walter Gordon Duncan | |
| Whitmore Blake Carr | Whitmore Blake Carr | |
| Will Ashton | Will Ashton | |
| William Alfred Webb | William Alfred Webb | |
| William Bennett (headmaster) | William Bennett | |
| William Hague MHA | William Hague | |
| William Henry Foote | William Henry Foote | |
| William Henry Jeanes | | SA Cricket Assn |
| William Henry Jeffries | William Jeffries (minister) | Methodist conference |
| William Herbert Phillipps | William Herbert Phillipps | |
| William Hutchinson Robinson | | Methodist conference |
| William Jethro Brown | William Jethro Brown | |
| William John Colebatch | | Roseworthy College |
| William John Hill | | both (Adel, Assoc) Chambers of Commerce |
| William John Masson | | |
| William John Warren | | State Bank |
| William Joseph Denny | William Joseph Denny | |
| William Mitchell (philosopher) | William Mitchell | |
| William Percival Nicholls | | Pulteney Grammar |
| William Ramsay Smith | William Ramsay Smith | |
| William Reynolds Bayly | William Reynolds Bayly | |
| William Rooke Creswell | William Rooke Creswell | |
| William Taylor McCoy | | director of educ. |
| William Thomas Shapley | William Thomas Shapley | of Methodist conference |
| William Thornborough Hayward | William Thornborough Hayward | |
James Alfred Pearce (1873–1944) drew caricatures in a similar style for the Adelaide News in a series entitled "Familiar Figures" in 1930. No. 19, Frank L. Gratton may be viewed here. Pearce was born in Burra to Cornish parents. Lionel Coventry (1906–1986) was a later News caricaturist, seen here and here (F. L. Parker in 1945 and 1949 respectively)

## Other interests

Although Chinner was best known for his caricatures, he was also a fine painter in watercolors.
He was also known for his skill as a poet, particularly as a hymnwriter.
He was deeply involved in municipal affairs, and was a longtime member of the Unley Council and served as mayor.
He was a board member of the Epworth Book Depot for over thirty years.
He was a lifelong supporter of Prince Alfred College in every aspect of its activities.

## Family

Chinner married Harriet Agnes Wallace (died 22 September 1948) at Parkside Wesleyan Church on 11 September 1889. Their children were:
* Mary Wallace Chinner (3 October 1890 – ) married Robert Harold Davidson in 1919
* Dorothy Agnes Chinner (27 March 1892 – 1916)
* Marjorie Wallace Chinner (29 August 1894 – ) married James Montrose Maughan in 1919
* Harry Wallace Chinner (26 December 1896 – 11 July 1975)
* John Wallace Chinner (5 March 1901 – 1972)
They had a home at 33 Foster street, Parkside.