John Croaker: Convict Embezzler

Croaker was born in Kent in 1788 and became principle clerk at the local bank. For fiddling with the accounts, he got 14 years in Australia. His arrival coincided with the foundation of the Bank of New South Wales, and Croaker set up its bookkeeping procedures. Later his interest turned to brewing, farming and malting. He died after a shipwreck on the coast of Chile. This biography is dryly humorous and a thoroughly good read.