John West grew up in Santa Monica, California. He graduated from California State University in Long Beach, California, with a major in biology, a major in physical education, a minor in physical science, and a lifetime standard-teaching credential. He taught science for thirty-three years and retired in 2001. Keeping current in biology and advances in science has enabled John to give a semiscientific bent to his humor. He has also written a child's book titled Being Three and recorded a CD of original cowboy poetry. John lived six months on Bainbridge Island, Washington, and six months in Scottsdale, Arizona. He is married to Valerie and has two children and five grandsons.
Part I. Discovery: 1. Anthony Van Diemen, governor of Batavia
2. Colonel Purry's project
Part II. From 1803 go 1824: 1. Van Diemen's Land occupied
2. Hobart Town named
3. Lieutenant E. Lord acting lieutenant-governor
4. Form of colonial government
5. Lieutenant-Governor Sorrell
6. Sheep introduced
7. Whaling
8. Religious efforts
9. Bill for better administration of justice
Part III. From 1824 to 1836: 1. Lieutenant-Colonel Arthur, superintendent at Honduras
2. Rise of the Australian press
3. Van Diemen's Land Company formed
4. State of society at Hobart
5. Dispute between Jennings and Montagu
6. Grammar school
7. Bank of Van Diemen's Land
8. Liabilities of publicans
9. Endowment of emigrants with land
10. Van Diemen's Land divided into counties
11. Brisbane grants
12. Wakefield's colonization scheme
13. Bank of Australasia
14. Glorious 23rd of May!
15. Mr. W. Bryan's disagreement with Arthur
16. 'True Colonist'
17. Recall of Arthur
Part IV. From 1836 to 1843: 1. Snodgrass acting-governor
2. Difficulties respecting the churches
3. Education
4. Distillation forbidden
5. Franklin arranges probation system
Part V. From 1843 to 1847: 1. Sir William Denison meets the twelve
2. Struggle against transportation
3. London agency
4. Lord J. Russell's speech
5. The 'Australias are One'
Zoology: 1. Mammalia
2. Birds
3. Fishes
4. Reptiles
5. Insects
6. Mollusca.
