BOOTH, Robert B. c.1840–c.1915

Born in Ireland: studied at Royal Military Academy, Woolwich, intending to join Royal Engineers but emigrated to New Zealand on account of his health. Arrived Lyttelton on Mary Anne August 1859. Worked on sheep stations including Samuel Butler's ‘Mesopotamia’, went gold prospecting and took temporary positions as a surveyor. Left New Zealand 1864 to join a brother in Bombay. Much later he wrote Five Years in New Zealand 1859–1864 pub. 1912. A watercolour is in Hocken.