Son of Sanquhar – John Dickson Wyselaskie

How did an illegitimate child born (1818) of a Polish officer fighting for Napoleon (supposedly a grandson of the last king of Poland) and a Sanquhar maiden become a citizen of eminence in the colony of Victoria, Australia?

This is about John Dickson’s journey from Sanquhar, his rise to eminence and his legacy to the Colony which is still having its impact in the 21st century.

J D Wyselaskie is recorded in the Australian Dictionary of Biography (ADB) as one of only 13,000 significant persons in Australian history. He is acknowledged for his philanthropy.

The talk will be presented by Ms Glen McIntyre of Melbourne, Australia, whose parents bought the Wyselaskie property in 1951 and whose brother has been skilfully restoring the Wyselaskie mansion over the past decades.

This is a free talk taking place in A’ The Airts Community Art Centre, just across the road from Sanquhar Tolbooth Museum.