Edward Wilson Landor (1811–1878) was a lawyer, scholar, writer and pioneer in the early days of the British colony of Western Australia.
At this time, Mrs Landor, perceiving Edward's affection for her daughter, pushed for a marriage between them, and forced him into an admission of his love.
Although Edward wrote to Julia's father expressing a willingness to maintain distance from the girl for two years if an engagement could follow, Walter Savage Landor would not change his view.
[3] Landor later wrote of his romantic entanglement with his cousin Julia that "the agony of mind I suffered for years nearly killed me, and altho' I had a good career in England I gave up everything";[4] the state of serious illness in which he found himself led him to decide to emigrate with his brothers to Western Australia.
[7] The Landor brothers intended to build up a large flock of sheep over six or so years[a] but discovered that squatting on Government land was not permitted, and so Henry and George farmed in partnership with Nathan Elias Knight, leasing Balladong Farm from Rivett Henry Bland "at a high rent",[9] and "wasted capital upon objects that could never bring in a good return", while Edward remained in Perth and practised as a barrister.
[24] In November 1842, Edward was appointed a commissioner of the new Court of Requests in Perth Guildford and Fremantle, which meant that he ceased to be a barrister, representing clients.
[citation needed] While in England, he published The Bushman, or Life in a New Country, a 31-chapter book dealing with many aspects of Western Australia: the Aboriginals, geography, the economy, the land grant system, flora and fauna and some adventures he and his brothers experienced.
[28] In 1871, while droving sheep from the Pilbara to Geraldton, Lockier Clere Burges shot and killed an Aboriginal man known as "Mackle-yell", in a dispute over a stolen saddle.
During the trial, the four magistrates conferred and decided that there was no likelihood of a conviction for murder and the Crown consented to a lesser charge, namely shooting with intent to do bodily harm.
[36] The Inquirer said of him: “He discharged his duties on the Bench fearlessly and honourably, jealously upholding the dignity of his high and responsible office, and his decisions were generally approved.”[37]