Alexander Macleay
FLS FRS | |
---|---|
Born | Ross-shire, Scotland | 24 June 1767
Died | 18 July 1848 New South Wales | (aged 81)
Nationality | Scottish |
Other names | Alexander McLeay |
Occupation | Chief Secretary of New South Wales |
Known for | Lepidopterology |
Alexander Macleay (also spelt McLeay)
Life
Macleay was born in
Macleay's chief natural history interest was
On 14 June 1825, Macleay was appointed Colonial Secretary for New South Wales.[6] He arrived in Sydney in January 1826, with his wife Eliza, 9 of his 10 surviving children, and his extensive collection. He was soon working twelve-hour days and on 17 July 1825 was nominated to the New South Wales Legislative and Executive Councils, holding both positions until December 1836.[1] Macleay represented Counties of Gloucester, Macquarie, and Stanley in the partially elected legislative council from June 1843 until 19 June 1848, a month before his death.[1] Originally residing at the Colonial Secretary's House in Macquarie Place, Macleay was granted land at Elizabeth Bay by Governor Ralph Darling, where he constructed Elizabeth Bay House and laid out an extensive botanic garden.
His extensive entomological collections formed the basis of the Macleay Museum at the University of Sydney.[7]
Macleay was also very active beyond his scientific pursuits and was the foundation president of the Australian Club.
Family
Macleay married a Miss Barclay of Urie. He was the father of the entomologist William Sharp Macleay, who expanded his father's collection, and of George Macleay, also a zoologist. William John Macleay, his nephew, was also an explorer and collector in Australia and New Guinea.[3][8]
His daughter Rosa Roberta married Arthur Pooley Onslow; her children included
References
- ^ a b c "Mr Alexander Macleay (1767-1848)". Former members of the Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 12 April 2019.
- Australian National Herbarium. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
- ^ a b Boulger, George Simonds (1893). Lee, Sidney (ed.). Dictionary of National Biography. Vol. 35. London: Smith, Elder & Co. . In
- ISSN 1833-7538. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
- ISBN 0730103153.
- ^ Serle, Percival (1949). "Macleay, Alexander". Dictionary of Australian Biography. Sydney: Angus & Robertson. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
- ^ "About the Macleay Museum". University of Sydney. Archived from the original on 24 June 2007.
- ISBN 073168463X.
- ISSN 1833-7538. Retrieved 8 September 2018.
External links
- "McLeay, Alexander (1767-1848)". Trove, People and Organisation. National Library of Australia.
- Colonial Secretary's papers 1822-1877, State Library of Queensland- includes digitised correspondence and letters written by Macleay when he was employed as Colonial Secretary relating to matters such as the Morton Bay Penal Settlement and Norfolk Island