William S. Frederick Mayers (1831–78)

Tasmanian-born sinologist. Educated in Marseilles. In 1859, travelled to Canton (Guangzhou), where he worked as an interpreter for the British Foreign Office. Acting vice-consul, Canton, 1870–2. Appointed vice-consul, Kiukiang (Jiujiang) and Chinese secretary of legation, Peking (Beijing), 1871. A prolific writer on China. Fellow, Royal Geographical Society, 1861.