Merchant, manufacturer, mineowner, property owner and pastoralist. Arrived in Sydney with parents in 1833. Educated at Sydney College under W.T Cape and Professor Rennie. Left school at age 16 and was apprenticed as an ironmonger. Joined mercantile firm of Richard Fawcett. Took over father's boot factory in 1851 while family squatted. Moved to larger premises in 1860 and expanded to include general trading and importing; by 1865 his Sydney factory employed 25 on the premises and 75 outworkers. Acquired shipping interests after visit to England in 1866. Owned steam colliers and acquired interests in 7 coal mines; owned colliery at Mount Keira. Chairman of South Greta Coal Company and of Mount Kembla Coal and Oil Company; took over Coal Cliff Company in 1896. Interests in tin, copper, gold, silver and bismuth mines in New South Wales. Chairman of Fitzroy Ironworks Company, which failed. Acquired much real estate in Sydney and Waverley. One of the largest property speculators and station owners in New South Wales. Owned runs of 170,000 acres near Moree. Took sons Ebenezer and Joseph into partnership in 1881; business incorporated as E.Vickery & Sons Limited in 1902. Director of City Bank of Sydney; Pacific Fire and Marine Insurance Company, Perpetual Trustee Company, Mutual Assurance Society of Victoria. Chairman of Trade Protestant Society of New South Wales; on general committee of New South Wales Free Trade Association at least in 1864. Commissioner of international exhibitions in 1880 and 1883. Director of Benevolent Society of New South Wales from 1904 until 1906. Devout Methodist. Purchased the Lyceum Theatre in 1905. Associated with the Central Methodist Mission. Founder of Sydney Young Men's Christian Association; member of Evangelical Council and of Australian Protestant Defence Association.