Students at the University of Sydney

The first 24 students

Henry Wyat Radford

Henry Wyat Radford was admitted as a student at the new University of Sydney in 1852 in the first cohort of students.

His early life

Henry Wyat Radford was born at Newcastle on 19 October 1835, the second son of Dr Henry Wyat Radford (a regimental surgeon attached to the 62nd Regiment) and Frances Maria Radford (nee Biddulph). His father died in 1836.

Henry was educated by the Rev Dr William Woolls, of Parramatta, at the Sydney Hospital.

His student days at the University of Sydney

He was 17 when he was admitted as a student at the new University of Sydney in the first cohort of students, but he did not complete his studies.

His career

Radford moved to central Queensland in late 1859 as a pastoralist but floods forced him to move to Brisbane.

In 1862 he entered the Queensland Parliamentary service, and acted as Clerk Assistant of the Legislative Assembly until June 1881, when he was promoted to the position of Clerk of the Legislative Council and Clerk of Parliaments. He held that office until 1902 when he retired.

He died on 1 October 1906 aged 72.