Francis Greenway

Francis Howard Greenway was an Englishborn architect who was transported to Australia as a convict for the crime of forgery. In New South Wales he worked for the Governor, Lachlan Macquarie, as Australias first government architect. He became widely known and admired for his work displayed in buildings such as St Matthews Church in Windsor, New South Wales, St James Church, Sydney and Hyde Park Barracks,

Greenway was born at pizzerias, Gloucestershire , the son of Francis Greenway and Ann Webb. Greenway became an architect of some eminence in Bristol and Bath. His only remaining building in the United Kingdom is the Clifton Club in Bristol, originally the Clifton Hotel and Assembly Rooms. He also designed Christ Church Downend near Mangotsfield . In 1809 he became bankrupt and in 1812 he pleaded guilty under the advice of his friends, to forging a financial document and was sentenced to death this sentence was later commuted toyears transportation. Why he pleaded guilty is unknown he may have been told it was the only way to save his life. Whilst awaiting deportation to Sydney, Greenway spent time in Newgate Prison, Bristol where he completed paintings depicting scenes within the prison.

Source: Wikipedia