Edward Dyson

Edward George Dyson (4 March 1865 – 22 August 1931) was an Australian journalist, poet, playwright and short story writer. He was the elder brother of illustrators Will Dyson (1880–1938) and Ambrose Dyson (1876–1913), with three sisters also of artistic and literary praise. Dyson wrote under several – some say many – nom-de-plumes, including Silas Snell. In his day, the period of Australia's federation, the poet and writer was "ranked very closely to Australia's greatest short-story writer, Henry Lawson". With Lawson known as the "swagman poet", Ogilvie the "horseman poet", Dyson was the "mining poet". Although known as a freelance writer, he was also considered part of The Bulletin writer group. Early life He was born at Morrison's Diggings near Ballarat in March 1865. His father, George Dyson, arrived in Australia in 1852 and after working on various diggings became a mining engineer. His mother, Jane, née Mayall, came from "a life of refinement in England". Brother Will would marry Ruby Lindsay while Ruby's brother Lionel would marry the Dyson sister Jean.