SOUTHWELL, CHARLES (1814-60), edited a freethought organ, The Oracle of Reason, in England and suffered a year's imprisonment for an article which was held to be blasphemous. He then came to New Zealand and was a pioneer of free thought in the Colony (1856). He edited the Auckland Examiner from 1856 until three weeks before his death (on 7 Aug 1860). On 4 Oct the paper resumed with a new editor and publisher.

H. H. Pearce (information); Scholefield, Union Catalogue; Auckland Examiner, 1856-60.

Reference: Volume 2, page 161

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