John Horrocks monument at Penwortham, South Australia

John Ainsworth Horrocks (22 March 1818 – 23 September 1846) was one of the first settlers in the Clare Valley in 1839. He established the town of Penwortham in South Australia. Horrocks is unfortunately known more for his death, when he was accidentally shot in a hunting accident. His gun fired after the camel he was using on an exploration mission lurched, knocking him and causing the weapon to discharge. His injuries were very substantial and included some teeth being knocked out from the bullet, and he died of gangrene a month later at home, in the town he had previously founded. He is buried at St. Mark's Anglican Church, which is also located in the town; the camel, who had previously attacked other humans (and a goat), was 'executed' at Horrocks' express wishes.

Horrocks gave his name to several geographical features in the vicinity of Mount Remarkable and the Clare Valley, such as Horrocks Pass near Mount Remarkable and Mount Horrocks near Clare.^[1]

Horrocks was born on Easter Sunday, 22 March 1818, at Penwortham Lodge, near Preston, Lancashire.

• Horrocks biography at Australian Dictionary of Biography On-line

[edit] References

[edit] See also

• Clare, South Australia
• Clare Valley
• Penwortham, South Australia

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