Biography

William Dry (1820 - 1908) was born in Launceston on 5^th May 1820 younger brother of Richard, who was to become Sir Richard: They were the sons of Richard and Anne Dry of 'Elphin Farm' on the Paterson Plains Road.

William was educated at the school of the Revd John Mackersey, at Campbell Town. He was then sent to England to further his education at Cambridge University and graduated M.A. He was ordained in the Church of England as deacon by the Bishop of London, and as priest by the Bishop of Tasmania, Bishop Francis Russell Nixon.
His first appointment was as assistant curate of Camden Town, London, and after he resettled in Van Diemen's Land, he acted as locum tenens for the Revd Philip Oalmer, Rural Dean and chaplain of Trinity Church, Hobart. This appointment was for three years. He returned to England then to be curate-in-charge at Minster-in-Sheppy, Kent and then on to Sutton-Valence, also in Kent. He then came back to Van Diemen's Land where he took up a position at St. John's Church, Hobart. For a short time he was locum tenens at St. John's Church, Launceston, from 1851 to 1852.

William's next appointment was at Longford, where he remained until 1860.During this time Rev. and Mrs Dry's new Gothic-style house, designed by architect William Henry Clayton, was constructed on the Elphin Estate which had been left to him by his father.
Then he travelled back to England and stayed for several years. Some of this time was spent in Edinburgh where he was appointed first secretary and treasurer at the inception of the Edinburgh Diocesan Association for the promotion of Foreign Missions. In 1842 while still in that beautiful city, he married Beatrice Young.

In 1883 William and his wife came back to the colony, now called Tasmania, and were for a time at St. Peter's Church at St. Leonard's. The Drys resided in Launceston for a couple of years, and then purchased Mount Esk at St Leonards, where they lived together for over 20 years.

His main interests were in the church, travelling and the Royal Society of Tasmania. He died in Launceston on 13^th June 1908 aged 88. In St. John's Church, Launceston, the present pulpit was dedicated to the priest's memory. The inscription reads:
REV. WILLIAM DRY M.A.
BORN MAY 5TH 1820
DIED JUNE 13TH 1908

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