Date of Birth: 01/01/1808
Place of Birth: Worcester, England
Date of Death: 16/04/1874
Place of Death: Darlinghurst, New South Wales, Australia
Qualifications, occupations and interests
Lawyer (Solicitor). Educated at Worcester Grammar School. Met leading writers and statesman, travelled widely, Assisted with the History of England. Studied law. Admitted as a Solicitor. Arrived in New South Wales in December 1831; Private secretary to Governor Bourke until 1837; engaged in modest importing and was a stipendiary magistrate, Campbelltown, 1833 - 1837, then Crown Prosecutor, Quarter Sessions until December 1838. began practice as a solicitor, from 1843 became a partner of Chambers and McCarthy. Chief examiner of titles from 1 January 1863; Director of Liverpool and London Life and Fire Insurance Company. Secretary to Law Commissioner from 1849 - 1850. On Board of National Education 1849; Chairman of National Schools Board 1864 - 1865. President of Sydney Mechanics School of Arts; Trustee of Savings Bank of New South Wales; Active in Australasian League for the Abolition of Transportation 1851 - 1854; leading member of Constitution Committee 1853; A patrician liberal in early 1850's and a conservative in late 1850's and early 1860's.
Personal
Son of Adam Holden, sugar refiner, and Maria Gillam. Married Eliza Prunette Mackenzie and had issue, 3 daughters and 5 sons.