Modern English biography

_Mennell’s Australian biography_ (1892) 325–6; _W. Howitt’s History of discovery in Australia_, _i_ 264–310 (1865), _ii_ 92–107 (1865); _J. E. T. Wood’s History of discovery of Australia i_ 366–94 (1865), _ii_ 121–42. MITCHELL, WILLIAM. _b._ Billquay, Durham 1799; in a counting house in Newcastle-on-Tyne 6 years; first appeared on the stage as a country boy in the Recruiting Officer at Newcastle; appeared at Strand theatre, London in Professionals puzzled 1831; actor and stage manager Coburg theatre, London 1834; appeared at National theatre, New York as Jem Baggs in The Wandering Minstrel 29 Aug. 1836; opened the Olympic theatre, New York, Dec. 1839, which he conducted till 1850 making money which he afterward lost; his best known part was Manager Crummles in Nicholas Nickleby. _d._ in poverty at New York 12 May 1856. _J. N. Ireland’s Records_, _ii_ 192–3 (1867). MITCHELL, SIR WILLIAM (son of John Mitchell of Modbury, Devon, a turner in wood and ivory and then a farmer). _b._ Modbury 1811; an apprentice to a printer at Modbury; a journalist on the True Sun in London 1833; established The shipping and mercantile gazette, a daily paper 1 Jany. 1836, and was chief proprietor and editor; introduced an international code of signals gradually adopted by all maritime countries; established signal stations for reporting movements of all ships using the international code; knighted by patent 27 July 1867; knight commander of Swedish order of St. Olaf 1869; edited A review of the merchant shipping bill, being a series of leading articles from the Shipping and mercantile gazette 1869; and Maritime notes and queries, a record of shipping law and usage 3 vols. 1873–6; published the Mercantile navy list and code of signals