I have read these posts on Archimedes Litherland with interest as I have done extensive research on him and his second wife Helen Gordon Russell. Their second daughter Alice had three sons who all went on to have large families so there are many descendants in Australia.
A Litherland Cunard left England as assistant to the famous illusionist Harry Keller in 1875 and accompanied him on a tour to America. During this time he took the stage name Cunard. He seems to have returned in 1876 and worked as an auctioneer. Note that there were two others who subsequently used the name Cunard. In 1979 he became manager of a circus at the Wintergarden in Southport, near Liverpool but left again with Keller on a world tour in 1879. While in Melbourne he met and married Helen Gordon Russell, an opera singer and together they embarked on a life of music hall, theatre management and performance. Their whole life on the road can be reconstructed through the Trove newspaper archive. Archimedes was known as Professor Cunard, but you can also find him under the name A Litherland Cunard or AL Cunard. He did not use the name Archimedes professionally. There is also a great deal about the Cunard family entertainers.
Helen (Catherine Helen) was born in London, England during a family visit to England.
Regarding Kate, his first wife: his marriage certificate notes her death in May 1884. I too noted that she did not seem to know that he was not working as an auctioneer. He never returned to England despite travelling widely. There is a story there to find.
I have lots of photos if anybody would like to contact me for more information.
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Topic: Archimedes Litherland. (Read 4577 times)