William John Macleay
Sir William John Macleay | |
|---|---|
Portrait by J. Hubert, c. 1890 | |
| Born | 13 June 1820 Wick, Scotland |
| Died | 7 December 1891 (aged 71) Sydney, Australia |
| Known for | Politician, naturalist |
Sir William John Macleay MLC (13 June 1820 – 7 December 1891)[1] was a Scottish-Australian politician, naturalist, zoologist, and herpetologist.
Early life
Macleay was born at Wick, Caithness, Scotland, second son of Kenneth Macleay of Keiss and his wife Barbara, née Horne.[1] Macleay was educated at the Edinburgh Academy 1834–1836 and then to studied medicine at the University of Edinburgh. After his mother died, he moved to Australia with his cousin, William Sharp Macleay. The two first settled by Goulburn and then near the Murrumbidgee River.
He is noted as the last of the naturalists in a family active in this field; his uncle was Alexander Macleay, Colonial Secretary of New South Wales from 1826 to 1836, and a member and fellow of societies concerned with the flora and fauna of the empire's colonies.[2]
Political career
On 1 March 1855 Macleay was elected to the old Legislative Council as member for the Lachlan and Lower Darling Pastoral District. After responsible government, on 19 April 1856 Macleay was elected to the Legislative Assembly for the Lachlan and Lower Darling serving until 11 April 1859. From 1860 to 1874 he represented Murrumbidgee in the Assembly.[3]
Confrontation with Ben Hall's gang
The gang of bushrangers led by Ben Hall were active on the road between Sydney and Goulburn, during mid-December 1864. On 19 December 1864, Macleay was travelling along the road in his buggy. Aware of the presence of bushrangers in the area, he was carrying a Tranter revolving rifle, a formidable weapon for its day. He came across a bail up in progress, and approached the less well-armed gang, who fled. When Macleay reached Plumb's inn (now a private residence on the right (eastern) bank of Narambulla Creek, 9.5 km south of Marulan), the gang returned and attacked. Macleay reached the verandah of the inn and he returned fire, until the gang left the scene. He was awarded a medal for his bravery.[4][5][6]
See also
- Category:Taxa named by William John Macleay
References
- ^ a b Hoare, Michael & Rutledge, Martha. "Macleay, Sir William John (1820–1891)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. National Centre of Biography, Australian National University. ISBN 978-0-522-84459-7. ISSN 1833-7538. OCLC 70677943. Retrieved 20 August 2019.
- ^ Frodin, D.G. (1990). "New Guinea botany: Explorers. institutions and outside influences: botany north of Thursday". History of systematic botany in Australasia : proceedings of a symposium held at the University of Melbourne, 25-27 May 1988. Melbourne: Australian Systematic Botany Society. p. 196. ISBN 073168463X.
- ^ "Sir William John Macleay (1820-1891)". Former members of the Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 6 June 2019.
- ^ Powell, Gregory (2016). Bushranger Tracks. New Holland. p. 70. ISBN 9781742577784.
- ^ "MR. MACLEAY, AND BEN HALL AND HIS GANG". Sydney Morning Herald. 22 December 1864. p. 5. Retrieved 14 March 2025.
- ^ "Satellite view - 34°44'30.8"S 149°54'43.9"E". Google Maps. Retrieved 15 March 2025.
External links
- Works by or about William John Macleay at the Internet Archive
- 1884–1887; Letters received by Sir William John Macleay. Correspondents include Sir George Macleay, Sir Charles Nicholson, Henry Nottidge Moseley, George Barnard, Nikolai de Miklouho-Maclay. Also includes Macleay's commission as captain of the Sydney Volunteer Artillery in 1866 and undated biographical notes, Macleay family - papers, 1811–1887, 1920–1929, 1983–1988, State Library of New South Wales, MLMSS 6116
- Macleay, Sir, William John (1820–1891) National Library of Australia, Trove, People and Organisation record for Sir William John Macleay