SCHMIDT, John Diedrich 1839–1925

Born Bremen: emigrated to Melbourne 1858 and in company with Shaw and Harbett founded the Melbourne Age. All three came to New Zealand 1860 where they founded four more newspapers in rapid succession, the last the Shortland Times in Auckland. Shaw, Schmidt and Co began another business as printers and engravers, but their premises were destroyed by fire. Shaw left, but Schmidt remained and set up again as an engraver and lithographer in Vulcan Lane. His business was later absorbed by Brett's Printing and Publishing Company, Schmidt acting as a department head for almost thirty years. He died in 1925. His lithographs after drawings by E. Rawlins were used for the first illustrated periodical to be published monthly in New Zealand. He was father of painter Armin Schmidt and of lithographer William Schmidt (below) Represented: Hocken.