John D. Custance

John Daniel Custance FCS FRAS (c. 1842 – 14 December 1923) was an agricultural scientist, founder of Roseworthy College, South Australia, but was sacked by a Minister with whom he had mutual antipathy.

Early in 1881 Sir Arthur Blyth, South Australia's Agent-General in England was charged with finding a suitable person to fill a newly established position of Professor of Agriculture with the University of Adelaide[2] He selected Custance, who in June 1881 was appointed at a salary of £800 per year.

Though an excellent teacher and researcher and an able administrator, Custance was by all reports an obstinate and irascible man ("Professor Crusty" was a nickname), and lacked the subtlety which might have won him more battles.

[7] Previous ministers with the portfolio Commissioner of Crown Lands and Immigration (Alfred Catt, Jenkin Coles and Thomas Playford)[8] seemed to have coped with his obstinacy, but James Henderson Howe was clearly more interested in maintaining the upper hand than a working relationship.

[14] Custance and his family returned to South Australia on the Persic around 27 April 1906, and received considerable recognition for the part he had played in the progress of agriculture in the State.