John Henry Chinner (30 June 1865 – 15 December 1933) was a South Australian artist, best known for his caricatures of prominent people.
History Chinner was born in Brighton, South Australia, son of George Williams Chinner (c. 1824 – 27 May 1880), and his second wife Mary Chinner, née Edwards. Chinner, pḕre, arrived in SA before 1847, had a drapery shop on Rundle Street. He married Caroline Bowen (c. 1831 – 29 April 1861) on 6 April 1849. By 1859 he was a Hindley Street publican, Mayor of Brighton in 1860 and longtime councillor. He married Mary Edwards on 8 September 1863. In 1879 he was enrolled at Prince Alfred College as a boarder, and later was a prominent batsman in the annual cricket match against St Peter's College. This was the start of a lifelong commitment as an active member and finally president of the PAC Old Collegians' Association, longtime member of the College Committee and for 22 years the Council's Honorary Secretary. The family moved to Parkside around 1880 and Chinner became involved with the local church literary society, taught bible classes, and was promoted by Alfred Catt to Sunday school superintendent. His devout, methodical, serious nature and no-nonsense leadership style made the Parkside Wesleyan Methodist Sunday school an example that other churches sought to emulate. His admiration for the Song of Australia as a National Anthem was tempered by Caroline Carleton's lack of reference to God, which Chinner made good with an additional verse:
His interest in caricature was first shown with contributions to the Literary Society's magazine, in which he published sketches of fellow-members, and it was not long before his work was to be seen in the pages of Quiz, The Bulletin and London Punch. He was a Fellow of the South Australian Society of Arts, and was urged by H. P. Gill to make a profession of his hobby.
Outside these interests he was an accountant — he was for 31 years Adelaide manager for the Atlas Insurance Company, retiring in January 1925.
Notable Citizens Chinner produced a series of around 250 caricatures between 1923 and 1928 for the Adelaide Saturday Journal, No. 1 being of the South Australian Governor, Sir Tom Bridges.
Many of these were also carried by sister-publications The Register and The Observer.
The last of the series may have been of Charles Bastard, lessee of Adelaide's City Baths. Around 180 of these are listed below:
Name Relevant article Notes Chinner monograms This article Abe Shannon Abe Shannon pastoralist philanthropist Albert Ernest Clarkson H. L. Vosz glass merchant Albert James Hannan Albert James Hannan Crown Solicitor Alec Bagot Alec Bagot politician Alexander John McLachlan Alexander McLachlan Alexander Vigors Benson A. V. Benson Port Adelaide Racing Club Alfred Austin Lendon A. A. Lendon medico Alfred C. Minchin A. C. Minchin zoo director Alfred Edward Simpson Alfred Edward Simpson architect Alfred Jabez Roberts A. J. Roberts business, sport Alfred Norwood Day A. N. Day railways Alick J. Murray Alick J. Murray pastoralist Andrew Alexander Kirkpatrick Andrew Kirkpatrick Andrew Douglas Young Andrew Douglas Young stockbroker Angas Johnson Angas Johnson city health officer Archibald Thomas Strong Archibald Strong scholar, poet Arnold Edwin Victor Richardson A. E. V. Richardson Arthur Graham Rymill Arthur Graham Rymill Arthur Nutter Thomas A. Nutter Thomas Arthur V. Kewney Arthur V. Kewney Victoria Racing Club Benno Seppelt Benno Seppelt winemaker Albert Edwin Hamilton A. E. Hamilton accountant, rose fancier Bert Hinkler Bert Hinkler Brailsford Robertson Thorburn Brailsford Robertson Adelaide Uni Brian Wibberley Brian Wibberley Methodist Cecil Thomas Madigan Cecil Thomas Madigan Charles Bastard Charles Bastard manager, City Baths Charles Edward Goldsmith None Savings bank Charles Edward Owen Smyth C. E. Owen Smyth Charles Fenner Charles Fenner technical education Charles Hawkes Todd Connor None mill owner Charles Howard Angas Charles Howard Angas Charles Richmond Glover Charles Richmond Glover Clem Hill Clem Hill Coleman Phillipson Coleman Phillipson International Law Darnley Naylor Darnley Naylor David John Gordon David Gordon Donald Reid James Marshall & Co. merchant Douglas Mawson Douglas Mawson geologist E Harold Davies E. Harold Davies Ebenezer Daniel Hedley Virgo None stockowners' representative Edgar John Field None public servant Edgar Ravenswood Waite Edgar Ravenswood Waite Edward Allan Farquhar Edward Allan Farquhar Edward Erskine Cleland Edward Erskine Cleland lawyer Edward Henry Rennie Edward Rennie Edward Holdsworth Sugden Edward Holdsworth Sugden Edward Howard Bakewell E. H. Bakewell Edward Julius Edward Julius forestry Edward Lucas MLC Edward Lucas Edward S. Kiek Edward S. Kiek Congregationalist Edward Wheewall Holden Edward Holden Edwin Mitchell Smith Edwin Mitchell Smith surveyor-general Ernest Maurice Sabine None police magistrate Ernest Pringle Ramsay Ernest Pringle Ramsay deputy postmaster-general Ferdinand Lucas Parker F. L. Parker parliamentary clerk Francis Villeneuve Smith Francis Smith Frank Lymer Gratton Frank Lymer Gratton 1000 voice choir conductor Frank Marlow Frank Marlow secretary football league Frank Moulden Frank Beaumont Moulden Frank Sandland Hone Frank Sandland Hone Frederic Wood Jones Frederic Wood Jones Frederick Allen Lakeman James Marshall & Co. merchant Frederick Charles Bevan Frederick Bevan Conservatorium Frederick George Scarfe George Scarfe of Harris, Scarfe & Co Frederick Taylor Whitington Fred T. Whitington Frederick William Birrell Frederick William Birrell Frederick William Bullock Frederick William Bullock Frederick William Richards Frederick William Richards George A. J. Webb George A. J. Webb George Brookman George Brookman George Davidson (minister) George Davidson Presbyterian George Edward Young George Edward Young George Frederick Claridge George Frederick Claridge home for incurables George Frederick Jenkins George Frederick Jenkins George Giffen George Giffen George Hubert Wilkins George Hubert Wilkins George McEwin George McEwin councillor George Richards Laffer George Richards Laffer Gordon Richardson Gordon Richardson Hans Heysen Hans Heysen Harold Edward Winterbottom Harold Edward Winterbottom Chamber of Manufactures Harold Gordon Darling Harold Gordon Darling Harold Jack Finnis Royal Agric. Soc. Harold Septimus Power Harold Septimus Power Harry Dove Young Harry Dove Young Henri Benedictus van Raalte H. van Raalte Art Gallery Henry Barwell Henry Barwell Henry Tassie MLC 01 Henry Tassie Henry Thomas (miller) Henry Thomas Herbert Allchurch police prosecutor Herbert Henry Ernest Russell OBE Herbert Mathew Hale museum Hermann Koeppen Wendt Horace Percy Beaver town clerk Immanuel Gotthold Reimann Immanuel Gotthold Reimann James Arthur Seymour Chalmer's church James Ashton James Ashton James Gartrell James Gartrell James Hall horse racing James Hay Gosse James Hay Gosse James Jelley James Jelley James Marshall James Marshall & Co. James McGuire (railways) James McGuire James Percy Morice clerk of parliament James Richard Fowler James Sadler James Walters Kitto deputy PMG James Wigham McGregor manufacturer John Baird, Lord Stonehaven John Baird, 1st Viscount Stonehaven John Cowan MLC John Cowan John Frederick Bailey John Frederick Bailey John George Bice John George Bice John Gunn MHA John Gunn John Henry Chinner (this article) artist, by his son John Lloyd Price John Lloyd Price John Marshall Reid John McInnes MHA John McInnes John Millard Dunn John Millard Dunn John Sincock govt reporting staff John Stoward Moyes John Stoward Moyes John Verran John Verran John White (South Australian painter) John White Joseph Verco Joseph Verco Josiah Symon Josiah Symon Julian Bickersteth Julian Bickersteth Kerr Grant Kerr Grant Lachlan McTaggart pastoralist Lancelot Stirling Lancelot Stirling Laurence Hotham Howie Laurence Hotham Howie Legh Winser Legh Winser Lennon Raws John Garrard Raws Chamber of Commerce Leslie Penfold-Hyland Leslie Penfold Hyland Leslie Salter dried fruits board Leslie Wilkie Leslie Wilkie Lewis Cohen (mayor) Lewis Cohen Lionel Gee Mines Department Lionel Laughton Hill Lionel Laughton Hill Lionel Lindsay Lionel Lindsay Malcolm McIntosh MHA Malcolm McIntosh Maxwell Gavin Anderson of Orient Line Mellis Napier Mellis Napier Napier Kyffin Birks Napier Kyffin Birks Noel Augustin Webb federal arbitration court Norman Jolly Norman Jolly Norman Murray Gladstone Gratton Scotch College Oscar Seppelt Oswald Vick Hoad military commander Owen Forbes Phillips Owen Phillips base commander Brig-Gen Owen Hindmarsh Stephens electoral college P. William Vaughan NoneArticle started in userspace but abandoned as unlikely to meet notability criteria. Commonwealth Bank Patrick McMahon Glynn Patrick McMahon Glynn Percy William Charlton Wise Percy W. Wise canon Wise Raymond Lionel Leane Raymond Lionel Leane Reginald Robert Stuckey under-treasurer Reginald Victor Wilson Reginald Victor Wilson Richard Butler MHA Richard Butler Richard Layton Butler Richard Layton Butler Richard William Bennett judge Robert Duncan Robert Hugh Crawford Robert Hugh Crawford Robert Scott Young Bank of Adelaide Robert William Chapman (engineer) Robert William Chapman Samuel Albert White Samuel Albert White Samuel Henry Prior Samuel Prior of The Bulletin Samuel James Mitchell Samuel James Mitchell Samuel Joshua Jacobs Samuel Joshua Jacobs Samuel Perry Samuel Perry Sid Torr racehorse owner Sidney Kidman Sidney Kidman Stanley Bruce Stanley Bruce Stanley Price Weir Stanley Price Weir Sydney Talbot Smith Sydney Talbot Smith Theodore George Bentley Osborn Theodore George Bentley Osborn Thomas Henry Jones Thomas Henry Jones Thomas Pascoe MLC Thomas Pascoe Thomas Payne Bellchambers naturalist Thomas Shuldham O'Halloran KC Thomas Shuldham O'Halloran KC Thomas Slaney Poole Thomas Slaney Poole Tom Bridges Tom Bridges Victor Ryan tourist bureau W. G. T. Goodman W. G. T. Goodman Wallace Bruce Wallace Sandford Wallace Sandford Walter Edwards Chinner of Wilkinson & Co. Walter Ernest Rogers 01 auditor-general Walter Gill Walter Gill Walter Gordon Duncan Walter Gordon Duncan Whitmore Blake Carr Whitmore Blake Carr Will Ashton Will Ashton William Alfred Webb William Alfred Webb William Bennett (headmaster) William Bennett William Hague MHA William Hague William Henry Foote William Henry Foote William Henry Jeanes SA Cricket Assn William Henry Jeffries William Jeffries (minister) Methodist conference William Herbert Phillipps William Herbert Phillipps William Hutchinson Robinson Methodist conference William Jethro Brown William Jethro Brown William John Colebatch Roseworthy College William John Hill both (Adel, Assoc) Chambers of Commerce William John Masson William John Warren State Bank William Joseph Denny William Joseph Denny William Mitchell (philosopher) William Mitchell William Percival Nicholls Pulteney Grammar William Ramsay Smith William Ramsay Smith William Reynolds Bayly William Reynolds Bayly William Rooke Creswell William Rooke Creswell William Taylor McCoy director of educ. William Thomas Shapley William Thomas Shapley of Methodist conference William Thornborough Hayward William Thornborough Hayward
James Alfred Pearce (1873–1944) drew caricatures in a similar style for the Adelaide News in a series entitled "Familiar Figures" in 1930. No. 19, Frank L. Gratton may be viewed here. Pearce was born in Burra to Cornish parents. Lionel Coventry (1906–1986) was a later News caricaturist, seen here and here (F. L. Parker in 1945 and 1949 respectively)
Other interests Although Chinner was best known for his caricatures, he was also a fine painter in watercolors.
He was also known for his skill as a poet, particularly as a hymnwriter.
He was deeply involved in municipal affairs, and was a longtime member of the Unley Council and served as mayor.
He was a board member of the Epworth Book Depot for over thirty years.