_Mennell’s Australian biography_ (1892) 325–6; _W. Howitt’s
History of discovery in Australia_, _i_ 264–310 (1865), _ii_
92–107 (1865); _J. E. T. Wood’s History of discovery of
Australia i_ 366–94 (1865), _ii_ 121–42.
MITCHELL, WILLIAM. _b._ Billquay, Durham 1799; in a counting
house in Newcastle-on-Tyne 6 years; first appeared on the
stage as a country boy in the Recruiting Officer at Newcastle;
appeared at Strand theatre, London in Professionals puzzled
1831; actor and stage manager Coburg theatre, London 1834;
appeared at National theatre, New York as Jem Baggs in The
Wandering Minstrel 29 Aug. 1836; opened the Olympic theatre, New
York, Dec. 1839, which he conducted till 1850 making money which
he afterward lost; his best known part was Manager Crummles in
Nicholas Nickleby. _d._ in poverty at New York 12 May 1856. _J.
N. Ireland’s Records_, _ii_ 192–3 (1867).
MITCHELL, SIR WILLIAM (son of John Mitchell of Modbury, Devon,
a turner in wood and ivory and then a farmer). _b._ Modbury
1811; an apprentice to a printer at Modbury; a journalist
on the True Sun in London 1833; established The shipping and
mercantile gazette, a daily paper 1 Jany. 1836, and was chief
proprietor and editor; introduced an international code of
signals gradually adopted by all maritime countries; established
signal stations for reporting movements of all ships using the
international code; knighted by patent 27 July 1867; knight
commander of Swedish order of St. Olaf 1869; edited A review of
the merchant shipping bill, being a series of leading articles
from the Shipping and mercantile gazette 1869; and Maritime
notes and queries, a record of shipping law and usage 3 vols.
1873–6; published the Mercantile navy list and code of signals