| Henry Wills Rischbieth | |
| Birth Date: | 26 January 1870 |
| Birth Place: | Glenelg, South Australia |
| Death Place: | London, England |
| Nationality: | British Subject |
Henry Wills Rischbieth (26 January 1870 – 27 March 1925) was a prominent[1] Australian grazier and wool merchant, described as "one of Western Australia's best known and enterprising businessmen."[2]
Rischbieth was the husband of Bessie Rischbieth, a South Australian feminist, social activist, and campaigner for women's rights.
Rischbieth was born in Glenelg in the colony of South Australia to Charles Rischbieth, a Hanover-born merchant and business leader, and Elizabeth Susan Wills. He studied at Prince Alfred College.[3]
A noted athlete in his youth, Rischbieth played Australian Rules Football for Norwood.[1] [4] While in England, he also played rugby, representing the North of England in a match against Scotland.[5]
Rischbieth learned the wool business during an extended visit to Bradford, England.[2] After returning to Australia, he moved to Western Australia in 1899,[6] settled in Peppermint Grove, and built Henry Wills & Co., a large grazing and wool business.[7] Rischbieth died in 1925 in London,[1] worth approximately 300,000 pounds.[3] He had been ill for some time and had sought medical treatment in Melbourne, Philadelphia, USA,[8] and finally England.[1]
Rischbieth married Bessie Mabel Earle at the Wesleyan Church in Kent Town[9] on 22 October 1898,[10] who became a prominent social reformer and advocate for women's rights. The couple did not have children.[11]
Rischbieth's father was businessman and colonist Charles Rischbieth. His cousin Oswald Rishbeth was a pioneer of academic geography in Britain.