Charles Rodius, artist, was born in Cologne Germany in 1802. While living in England he was convicted of stealing and transported to New South Wales for seven years. Employed without salary for the Department of Public Works, he taught drawing to civil and military officers and as a draughtsman was engaged in producing plans of the buildings of the Colony. Rodius also taught drawing to the children of the notables of Sydney including Chief Justice Francis Forbes, W. Foster chairman of the Court of Quarter Sessions and John Manning. He was granted a certificate of freedom in 1841. Charles Rodius died in 1860. The alternative spelling of his surname is found in newspaper articles of his work and on works associated with his name in the Department of Public Works, Sydney.