David Scott Mitchell (19 March 1836 – 24 July 1907) was a collector of Australian books, founder and benefactor of the Mitchell Library, at the State Library of New South Wales, Sydney.G. D. Richardson, 'Mitchell, David Scott (1836–1907)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, Volume 5, Melbourne University Press, 1974, pp 260–261. Retrieved 8 October 2009. Mitchell was buried in Rookwood Cemetery.
Early life In 1836 Mitchell was born in Sydney, the son of Dr James Mitchell and his wife Augusta Maria Frederick, née Scott. James and Augusta are commemorated by a window in the Garrison Church. David Mitchell was born at Sydney Hospital, grew up in Cumberland Street, Sydney and in October 1852, aged 16, became one of the first seven undergraduate students in the newly established University of Sydney in 1852. Mitchell won scholarships in mathematics and graduated B.A. in 1856 with honours in classics, and M.A. in 1859.
Mitchell was called to the bar, however he never practised law or any other profession. It was said that he declined the position of attorney-general. Mitchell assisted in the management of the Hunter River estates. Allegedly, he broke off a romance with Emily Matilda Manning, daughter of William Montagu Manning. Mitchell's father died in 1869. Publication of the family affairs was humiliating to a man of Mitchell's sensitive disposition.
Book collector
In his search for books he was "largely indebted to the efforts of booksellers who knew Australiana, including George Robertson, Fred W. Wymark, William Dymock and James R. Tyrrell".Geoffrey Chapman Ingleton, "Australiana", in: The Australian Encyclopedia, The Grolier Society of Australia, 1963, Vol. 1, p. 340. Mitchell also purchased books from other collectors, most notably Mitchell purchased the 3,300-volume Australian collection of Alfred Lee in 1906.
Other activities
Mitchell was the first patron of the Royal Australian Historical Society in 1901.
Further reading James R. Tyrrell, David Scott Mitchell: A Reminiscence (Sydney: Sunnybrook Press, 1936)
See also Angus & Robertson William Dixson
References
External links
David Scott Mitchell at Philanthropy Wiki
David Scott Mitchell Memorial Fellowship – encourages the use of the Mitchell Library for study and research of Australian history [CC-By-SA]