Poet, journalist, and editor. Alternative signature: “J. C. Paterson.” Born in Ayr
c. 1823. Brother of journalist Robert Paterson. Possibly the nephew of author and
antiquary James Paterson. Initially trained as a compositor for *Ayr Advertiser*.
Emigrated to Victoria, Australia, in 1852-1853, during the gold rush, and he may have
continued to publish unsigned poems. Worked as a reporter and then commercial editor
for the Melbourne *Argus*. Became Special Commissioner for the *Argus* in 1862 and
reported on gold fields in Victoria and New South Wales. Afterwards become the *Argus*’s
main parliamentary reporter until c. 1874, and then edited the Melbourne *Punch* and
then the daily *Advertiser* in Geelong. Afterwards he moved to Tasmania and edited
the *Evening Mail*, then moved to New Zealand and edited the *Wellington Independent*
and then the *Nelson Colonist*. Overwork destroyed his health, and he died in the
Dunedin Lunatic Asylum shortly after being admitted in February 1879. Author of *A
Lay of Life and Other Poems* (1845). Biographical information: *Modern Scottish Poets*,
twelfth series, D. H. Edwards, 1889, p. 246-8. (AC)