Born on 8 July 1794 at Darlington, County Durham, England, the son of James Backhouse and his wife Mary, nee Dearman. He married on 5 November 1822 at York, Yorkshire, England, to Deborah Lowe, daughter of Richard Lowe of Worcester, England. After his wife's death he sailed for Hobart, Van Diemen's Land in the early 1830's. Joined up with George Washington Walker to prepare reports for the Government on the conditions of convicts, aborigines, etc. They arrived at Port Phillip on 10 November 1837 per "Eudora" from Hobart, V.D.L. Stayed at George Langhorne's Mission Station on the Yarra River. Preached at St. James' Church of England and inaugurated the Port Phillip Temperance Society. Departed for Adelaide, South Australia on 19 November 1837. Spent some time in South Africa before returning to England. Was also well known as a botanist and an author. He died on 20 January 1869 at Holgate House, York, Yorkshire, England.

[Australian Dictionary of Biography (Vol. 1); Serle Dictionary of Australian Biography]

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