Terence McGann, 1848 - 1913

by Brian Stevenson
last updated July, 2025

From around 1872 until 1887, Terence McGann operated a business from his home(s) in Counties Clare and Galway, Ireland, selling ferns and other natural items. He also advertised interest in exchanging items with other collectors. By 1876, he offered Irish algae and diatoms “beautifully mounted in balsam and other mediums”. I have not discovered whether McGann had other sources of income. In 1887, he moved to Kanmantoo, Australia, and established a photography business.

Figure 1. A microscope slide from Terence McGann, prepared in 1877. He undoubtedly sold or exchanged this slide with another microscopist.

Figure 2. Figure 2. “Diatoms from Marine Algae, Burren, County Clare, 10-12-77, damar” (Figure 1). Imaged with a 25x objective lens and C-mounted digital SLR camera on a Leitz Ortholux II microscope.

Figure 3. Exchange and sales advertisements from Terence McGann, published in UK and American scientific magazines between 1872 and 1886. He moved to Australia in 1887.

Terence McGann was baptized on March 16, 1848, in New Quay, Clare, Ireland. He is presumed to have been born a few days or weeks before that date. He was a son of John and Mary (nee Crehan) McGann. I have not found records of his father’s occupation, nor of whether Terence had a job outside of his natural specimens business.

McGann advertised to sell ferns in 1872 (Figure 3). This was clearly a business, as he requested “cash only” and offered to supply “the Trade” (i.e. wholesale to other retailers). He is reported to have published a 12 page “Priced Descriptive Catalogue of Hardy Ferns, Alpines, Etc., Etc.” in 1873. Collecting numerous varieties of ferns was a very popular hobby in the mid-late 1800s (known playfully as "Pteridomania" or "fern madness")

By 1874, he was offering “sea anemones, marine algae, fronds or living plants of 35 different Irish and Scotch ferns … (and) interesting Alpine and native Orchidea” (Figure 3). While this was published as an “exchange” in the popular magazine Hardwicke’s Science-Gossip, he provided evidence that he was also open for business by stating “descriptive list sent for 3d”. His offering of Scottish ferns and alpine orchids implies that McGann had acquired substantial quantities of non-native plants and was probably cultivating them at his home.

McGann advertised in an American magazine in 1876, offering “Irish and British marine Algae in great variety, correctly named, for herbariums, etc.; also beautifully mounted in balsam and other mediums; in fruit; many laden with diatoms; or splendid specimens, specially prepared for balsam. Foraminifera from Dog's Bay, Egypt, Java, etc.; diatoms, zoophytes, sponge spicula, Holothuria plates, mollusca palates, ghost crabs, starfish, and various other unmounted interesting marine material, as well as botanical and entomological objects, etc.”, in exchange for “any American objects, mounted or otherwise prepared microscope slides, unmounted items, and live botanical specimens” (Figure 3). The nature of this and several other advertisements of this period suggest that McGann was a hobbyist as well as a retailer.

Hardwicke’s Science-Gossip published a list of “Friends in Council: a list of assisting naturalists”, being people who “have signified their willingness to gratuitously assist learners of natural history and others, personally when practicable, otherwise through the post”. Terence McGann offered his name and address, as an expert in “Botany, microscopy, mounts slides, supplies micro material, algae and living plants on exchange, &c.” (Figure 3).

He asked for a “turntable in exchange for prepared micro material” in 1882 (Figure 3). Noting that the microscope slide shown in Figure 1 was prepared in 1877 and is expertly ringed with multiple colors, we can assume that it was prepared with low quality turntable or that it had since been broken.

In 1881, he requested to receive “photo-apparatus or lantern slides” in exchange for his items (Figure 3). He later advertised to provide “seaweeds, ferns, etc., mounted in Canada balsam for microscope and magic lantern slides”.

A “half-plate photographic instrument” was requested in 1886 (Figure 3). This was just before he moved to Australia, where he opened a photography business.

McGann married Catherine Maher in Australia on October 26, 1887. The pair had seven children.

He published two items in Hardwicke’s Science-Gossip in 1888, then appears to have ceased mass communication with naturalists back home. One was an exchange offer, to provide “Australian Orchidaceæ, and other plants and seeds for cultivation, &c.; also in microscopic slides and material, &c.” and to “exchange photographic and scientific books and journals” (Figure 4). The exchange request was published in the same issue as his letter, “Notes from South Australia”:

“I have lately come out here, and shall be very glad to have exchanges etc. with you for such things as I can procure here, and I'll be glad to know what you wish me to do for you. Anything interesting to an amateur photographer, either in way of reading or appliances will be very acceptable; mine is full plate with 1/4 and 1/2 carriers. On my arrival here in October it was something magnificent to see the Orchidaceæ of the hills in bloom, and all the shrubs in endless variety and of exquisite beauty, even grasses were in themselves sufficient to call for unreserved admiration. Oh how I wished I could have sent collections to my various English correspondents, as I used to when at home in the hills of Burren, co. Clare, and I hope I will next season be able to do so. There are such lovely orchidaceous plants in every shape and colour (yellow, blue, white, brown, copper, etc.), and as for bulbous plants they are innumerable. One very pretty thing I saw under shrubs and shady glens was, Drosera Menziesia, a bulbous-rooted D., size of a marble, with a crown of spathulate leaves on the surface, from which rose a zigzag spike, on top of which four or five flowers, size of 6d. (white with lovely pink spots), the stem 18 inches, covered all along with small cupshaped leaves, studded with crimson and pink tentacles; it is a semi-trailer, and holds itself upright by the curling of the little leaf-stalks round the twigs and grasses, in the way of the nasturtiums. If two or three happen to grow together, the effect, in the sunshine, is something to remember, as they clasp each other and become quite a pillar of sparkling jewels. These bulbs, I trust, I shall be able to introduce to my English friends, and shall be glad if you mention me to yours, or insert any portion of this in your journal and oblige me very much”.

McGann first set up a photography business in Kanmantoo, South Australia. His wife was listed as being a teacher there in 1892. The couple then moved to Adelaide, setting up a studio on Leigh Street. Around 1911, he moved to Rundle Street.

Terence McGann died on June 17, 1913. The Advertiser (Adelaide) wrote, “The death occurred at the Adelaide Hospital on Tuesday of Mr. Terrence (sic) McGann at the age of 64 years. Mr. McGann was born in county Clare, Ireland, and arrived in South Australia 25 years ago. He was long considered the most expert outdoor photographer in Adelaide, and many beautiful pictures came from his camera. It was he who took the photographs of the members of the Federal Convention and the journalists who were engaged thereat in Adelaide in April, 1897, and he did similar work in connection with many other historic gatherings. His work was always artistic, and he took a deep pride in it. Many of his best pictures appeared in ‘The Chronicle’.”

Figure 4. An 1888 exchange offer, from “Hardwicke’s Science-Gossip”. The address has a typographical error, the name of the town is “Kanmantoo”.

Figure 5. An 1892 photographic production by Terrence McGann, of the Australian Cricket Team. It commemorated test matches between Australia and England, of which Australia won 2 of the 3 tests. Adapted for nonprofit, educational purposes from an internet auction site.

Figure 6. “A view in the Botanical Gardens, Adelaide”, by Terrence McGann. From “The Central State. South Australia: Its History, Progress and Resources”, 1903.

Resources

The Advertiser (Adelaide) (1913) Obituary of Terence McGann, June 20 issue, page 8

The American Journal of Microscopy and Popular Science (1876) Exchange offers from Terrence McGann, multiple issues

Annual Report of the Committee of the South Australian Chamber of Manufactures (1908) “McGann, T., Photographer and Illustrator, Leight Street”, page 59

The Bazaar, The Exchange and Mart (1875) Milch weed for corns, page 263

Burgess, Henry Thomas (1907) The Cyclopedia of South Australia, Cyclopedia Company, Adelaide (includes photographs by Terence McGann)

Davies, Alan, and Peter Stanbury (1985) The Mechanical Eye in Australia: Photography 1841-1900, Terence McGann, page 195

Gordon, David John (1903) The Central State. South Australia: Its History, Progress and Resources, Vardon and Pritchard, Adelaide, (includes photographs by Terence McGann)

Hardwicke’s Science-Gossip (1874) Exchange offer from Terrence McGann, page 72

Hardwicke’s Science-Gossip (1875) Exchange offers from Terrence McGann, pages 192 and 264

Hardwicke’s Science-Gossip (1876) Exchange offer from Terrence McGann, page 240

Hardwicke’s Science-Gossip (1878) Exchange offers from Terrence McGann, pages 72 and 96

Hardwicke’s Science-Gossip (1879) Friends in Council, pages 270-271

Hardwicke’s Science-Gossip (1882) Exchange offer from Terrence McGann, page 144

Hardwicke’s Science-Gossip (1886) Exchange offer from Terrence McGann, page 216

Hardwicke’s Science-Gossip (1888) Exchange offer from Terrence McGann, page 143

Ireland vital records, accessed through ancestry.com and familysearch.org

Journal of Horticulture, Cottage Gardener, and Country Gentleman (1872) Advertisement from Terrence McGann, December issue, advertising section page 1

The Journal of Industry (1911) “McGann, T., Photographer, Rundle-street”, page 21

McGann, Terence (1888) Notes from South Australia, Hardwicke’s Science-Gossip, page 143

Microscopical News and Northern Microscopist (1881) Exchange offer from Terrence McGann, page 276

Museums Victoria (accessed July, 2025) https://collections.museumsvictoria.com.au/items/1479505

Proceedings of the Parliament of South Australia (1892) “Kanmantoo … McGann, Kate”, page 44