Sir William John MACLEAY (1820 - 1891)**

Date of Birth: 13/06/1820 Place of Birth: Wick, Caithness, Scotland Date of Death: 07/12/1891 Place of Death: Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Parliamentary Service

Position Start End Period Notes Member of the NSW Legislative Council 1 Mar 1855 29 Feb 1856 11mth(s) 29day(s) An Elective Member of the first Legislative Council 1843 - 1856 for the Pastoral Districts of Lachlan and Lower Darling Member of the NSW Legislative Assembly 19 Apr 1856 28 Nov 1874 18yr(s) 7mth(s) 10day(s) Member for Murrumbidgee 10 Jun 1859 7 Jul 1859 28days 3rd (1859 - 1860) Member of the NSW Legislative Council 27 Nov 1877 7 Dec 1891 14yr(s) 11day(s) Life Appointment under the Constitution Act. Date of Writ of Summons 29 October 1877 Member for Lachlan and Lower Darling 19 Apr 1856 19 Dec 1857 1yr(s) 8mth(s) 1day(s) 1st (1856 - 1857) Member for Lachlan and Lower Darling 25 Jan 1858 11 Apr 1859 1yr(s) 2mth(s) 18day(s) 2nd (1858 - 1859) Member for Murrumbidgee 5 Dec 1860 10 Nov 1864 3yr(s) 11mth(s) 6day(s) 4th (1860 - 1864) Member for Murrumbidgee 10 Dec 1864 15 Nov 1869 4yr(s) 11mth(s) 6day(s) 5th (1865 - 1869) Member for Murrumbidgee 9 Dec 1869 3 Feb 1872 2yr(s) 1mth(s) 26day(s) 6th (1870 - 1872) Member for Murrumbidgee 7 Mar 1872 28 Nov 1874 2yr(s) 8mth(s) 22day(s) 7th (1872 - 1874) Masters’ and Servants’ Acts Constitution Bill Committee No.8 13 Aug 1856 18 Mar 1857 7mths 6days 1st (1856 - 1857) Navigation of the Murray, & c. Committee No.8 13 Apr 1858 26 Nov 1858 7mths 14days 2nd (1858 - 1859) Dismissal of Mr F.Gorton Committee No.9 14 Sep 1859 4 Jul 1860 9mths 21days 2nd (1858 - 1859) Case of Charles Wentworth Bucknell Committee No.17 23 Sep 1859 4 Jul 1860 9mths 12days 2nd (1858 - 1859) St Andrew's College Bill Committee No.24 14 Oct 1859 4 Jul 1860 8mths 21days 2nd (1858 - 1859) Grievances Committee No.26 6 Dec 1859 4 Jul 1860 6mths 29days 2nd (1858 - 1859) Elections and Qualifications Committee No.7 28 Sep 1860 9 Nov 1860 1mth 13days 3rd (1859 - 1860) Elections and Qualifications Committee No.9 16 Jan 1861 11 May 1861 3mths 26days 4th (1860 - 1864) Petition of Mr N.L Kentish Committee No.7 23 Jan 1861 11 May 1861 3mths 19days 4th (1860 - 1864) Wahgunyah Murray Bridge Company’s Bill Committee No.21 19 Feb 1861 11 May 1861 2mths 23days 4th (1860 - 1864) Elections and Qualifications Committee No.4 6 Sep 1861 20 Jan 1862 4mths 15days 4th (1860 - 1864) Wagga Wagga Bridge Company’s Bill Committee No.7 27 Sep 1861 20 Jan 1862 3mths 25days 4th (1860 - 1864) Chairman Elections and Qualifications Committee No.6 29 May 1862 17 Jun 1862 20days 4th (1860 - 1864) Mr Charles Phillips Lawrence Committee No.19 5 Aug 1862 29 Oct 1862 2mths 25days 4th (1860 - 1864) Gibson’s Estate Bill Committee No.27 2 Sep 1862 4 Sep 1862 3days 4th (1860 - 1864) Morehead and Young’s Railway Bill Committee No.28 2 Sep 1862 15 Oct 1862 1mth 14days 4th (1860 - 1864) State of Manufactures and Agriculture in the Colony Committee No.26 2 Sep 1862 12 Dec 1862 3mths 11days 4th (1860 - 1864) Pacific Fire and Marine Insurance Company’s Incorporation Bill Committee No.39 21 Oct 1862 24 Oct 1862 4days 4th (1860 - 1864) Elections and Qualifications Committee No.7 25 Jun 1863 10 Sep 1863 2mths 17days 4th (1860 - 1864) Harbour Defences Committee No.6 1 Jul 1863 20 Oct 1863 3mths 20days 4th (1860 - 1864) Chairman Reservations upon Runs in Tumut District Committee No.25 29 Sep 1863 11 Mar 1864 5mths 12days 4th (1860 - 1864) Cox’s Marriage Settlement Bill Committee No.29 1 Dec 1863 16 Dec 1863 16days 4th (1860 - 1864) Elections and Qualifications Committee No.4 20 Oct 1864 9 Nov 1864 21days 4th (1860 - 1864) Bank of New South Wales Incorporation Act Amendment Bill Committee No.32 5 Dec 1864 12 Feb 1864 4th (1860 - 1864) Elections and Qualifications Committee No.2 31 Jan 1865 31 Mar 1865 2mths 1day 5th (1865 - 1869) Harbour Defences Committee No.13 2 May 1865 8 Jun 1865 1mth 7days 5th (1865 - 1869) Mrs Callaghan Committee No.19 19 May 1865 15 Jun 1865 28days 5th (1865 - 1869) Coal Wharf, Newcastle Committee No.21 15 Jun 1865 21 Jun 1865 7days 5th (1865 - 1869) Refreshment Room Committee No.4 25 Jul 1865 18 Mar 1867 1yr 7mths 22days 5th (1865 - 1869) Elections and Qualifications Committee No.5 24 Oct 1865 7 Apr 1866 5mths 15days 5th (1865 - 1869) Refreshment Room Committee No.4 25 Oct 1865 7 Apr 1866 5mths 14days 5th (1865 - 1869) Disease in Fruit Trees Committee No.6 31 Oct 1865 7 Apr 1866 5mths 8days 5th (1865 - 1869) Present State of the Colony Committee No.7 7 Nov 1865 28 Mar 1865 5th (1865 - 1869) Proposed Amendments in Electoral Act of 1858 Committee No.17 9 Mar 1866 4 Apr 1866 27days 5th (1865 - 1869) The Governor’s Opening Speech Committee No.1 24 Jul 1866 24 Jul 1866 1day 5th (1865 - 1869) Elections and Qualifications Committee No.7 26 Jul 1866 22 Dec 1866 4mths 27days 5th (1865 - 1869) Disease in Fruit Trees Committee No.5 31 Jul 1866 13 Sep 1866 1mth 14days 5th (1865 - 1869) Hartley Kerosene Oil and Paraffine Company’s Incorporation Bill Committee No.9 4 Sep 1866 25 Sep 1866 22days 5th (1865 - 1869) Proposed Electoral Alterations Committee No.12 25 Sep 1866 13 Dec 1866 2mths 19days 5th (1865 - 1869) Fisheries Act Amendment Bill Committee No.20 2 Nov 1866 2 Dec 1866 1mth 1day 5th (1865 - 1869) Oyster Fisheries Protection Bill Committee No.7+ 2 Jul 1867 27 Apr 1868 9mths 26days 5th (1865 - 1869) Elections and Qualifications Committee No.5 2 Jul 1867 27 Apr 1868 9mths 26days 5th (1865 - 1869) Refreshment Room Committee No.4 3 Jul 1867 27 Apr 1868 9mths 25days 5th (1865 - 1869) Claims of Mr Bartholomew Rush Committee No.17 22 Nov 1867 1 Apr 1868 4mths 11days 5th (1865 - 1869) Removal of Mr Samuel Charles from the Commission of the Peace Committee No. 25 9 Apr 1868 24 Apr 1868 16days 5th (1865 - 1869) Alleged Conspiracy for purposes of Treason and Assassination Committee No.3 15 Dec 1868 3 Feb 1869 1mth 20days 5th (1865 - 1869) Chairman Refreshment Room Committee No.6 15 Dec 1868 24 Mar 1869 3mths 10days 5th (1865 - 1869) Removal of Mr Samuel Charles from the Commission of the Peace Committee No.12 27 Jan 1869 23 Mar 1869 1mth 25days 5th (1865 - 1869) The Governor’s Opening Speech Committee No.1 28 Sep 1869 28 Sep 1869 1day 5th (1865 - 1869) Refreshment Room Committee No.4 29 Sep 1869 13 Nov 1869 1mth 16days 5th (1865 - 1869) Elections and Qualifications Committee No.6 5 Oct 1869 13 Nov 1869 1mth 9days 5th (1865 - 1869) Claims of Mr Bartholomew Rush Committee No.8 8 Oct 1869 13 Nov 1869 1mth 6days 5th (1865 - 1869) Railway Extension Committee No.15 28 Oct 1869 11 Nov 1869 15days 5th (1865 - 1869) Chairman The Governor’s Opening Speech Committee No.1 1 Feb 1870 1 Feb 1870 1day 6th (1870 - 1872) Elections and Qualifications Committee No.7 2 Feb 1870 9 Mar 1870 1mth 8days 6th (1870 - 1872) Refreshment Room Committee No.4 2 Feb 1870 7 May 1870 3mths 6days 6th (1870 - 1872) Railway Extension Committee No.5 3 Feb 1870 25 Mar 1870 1mth 23days 6th (1870 - 1872) Chairman Oyster Fisheries Committee No.17 15 Mar 1870 7 May 1870 1mth 23days 6th (1870 - 1872) Claims of Bartholomew Rush Committee No.24 12 Apr 1870 7 May 1870 26days 6th (1870 - 1872) Claims of Mr Bartholomew Rush Committee No.7 25 Aug 1870 23 Sep 1870 30days 6th (1870 - 1872) Claims of Mr Spencer, of Gundagai Committee No.13 9 Dec 1870 22 Jun 1871 6mths 14days 6th (1870 - 1872) Chairman Yass Roman Catholic Church Land Bill Committee No.20 18 Apr 1871 22 Jun 1871 2mths 5days 6th (1870 - 1872) Refreshment Room Committee No.4 15 Nov 1871 1 Feb 1872 2mths 18days 6th (1870 - 1872) The Civil Service Committee No.6 21 Nov 1871 1 Feb 1872 2mths 12days 6th (1870 - 1872) Refreshment Room Committee No.5 12 Jun 1872 13 Aug 1872 2mths 2days 6th (1870 - 1872) Administration of the Land Law Committee No.14 5 Jul 1872 6 Aug 1872 1mth 2days 6th (1870 - 1872) The Civil Service Committee No.16 30 Jul 1872 2 Aug 1872 4days 6th (1870 - 1872) Refreshment Room Committee No.5 6 Nov 1872 5 Mar 1873 3mths 28days 7th (1872 - 1874) The Civil Service Committee No.6 12 Nov 1872 5 Mar 1873 3mths 22days 7th (1872 - 1874) Telegraphic Communication Committee No.17 17 Dec 1872 24 Apr 1873 4mths 8days 7th (1872 - 1874) Administration of the Land Law Committee No.16 17 Dec 1872 24 Apr 1873 4mths 8days 7th (1872 - 1874) Customs Seizure of Goods at Mulwala Committee No.26 1873 23 Apr 1873 2mths 10days 7th (1872 - 1874) Deniliquin and Moama Railway Bill Committee No.29 12 Mar 1873 28 Mar 1873 17days 7th (1872 - 1874) Refreshment Room Committee No.4 10 Sep 1873 25 Jun 1874 9mths 16days 7th (1872 - 1874) Administration of the Land Law Committee No.5 12 Sep 1873 24 Jun 1874 9mths 13days 7th (1872 - 1874) Payment of Duty on Tobacco Committee No.15 4 Nov 1873 12 Dec 1873 1mth 9days 7th (1872 - 1874) Macquarie-street Roman Catholic School Site Sale Bill Committee No.22 16 Jan 1874 22 Jan 1874 7days 7th (1872 - 1874) The Sydney Museum Committee No.27 24 Feb 1874 18 May 1874 2mths 25days 7th (1872 - 1874) Refreshment Room No.4 4 Nov 1874 17 Nov 1874 14days 7th (1872 - 1874) Administration of the Land Law Committee No.9 17 Nov 1874 26 Nov 1874 10days 7th (1872 - 1874)

Community Activity

Commissioned as a Justice of the Peace in 1841. On the Board of the National School, Wagga Wagga.

Qualifications, occupations and interests

Pastoralist. Educated at Edinburgh Academy and studied Medicine at University of Edinburgh 1834 until 1836. Arrived in Sydney in 1839. Had vineyard near Wagga Wagga in 1870s. Founder of Murrumbidgee Turf Club in 1852. Trustee of Free Public Entomological Society of New South Wales in 1862. Patron of science. Trustee of Australian Museum. Founder of Union Club of 1856. Freemason.

Military Service

Captain of the Sydney Volunteer Artillery 1861 until 1866.

Honours Received

Knighted in 1889.

Personal

Son of Kenneth Macleay and Barbara Horne. Married Susan Emmeline Thomson, daughter of Edward Deas Thomson, in 1857 and had no issue. Church of England.

Additional Information

Personal papers in the Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales: Sir William Macleay - papers, 1856 - 1894 (MLMSS 565)

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