Guide to the Correspondence of Sir Edward Macarthur (as filmed by the AJCP), 1854-1857

 

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Collection context

Summary

Collection number:
M592
Creator:
Macarthur, Edward, Sir
Extent:
8 items
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

Acknowledgement of use of this material should refer to the location of the original material and to the Australian Joint Copying Project.

Items from this collection should include references to the location of the original material and to the AJCP nla.obj number, which serves as the online identifier for the digital copy.

Example: M Series: Journal of Capt. James Cook, 18 February 1770, British Library Add. MS 27885 (AJCP ref: http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-1234)

Availability:
Available
Access conditions:
Available for reference.

Background

Content Summary:

Correspondence and dispatches from, or relating to, Sir Edward Macarthur:

1. Two letters 3 August 1854 and 3 November 1854 to Macarthur from London.

2. Letter 18 August 1857 from Sir Henry Barkly to Henry Labouchere forwarding a copy of a dispatch from the War Office, and with enclosures dated 1, 13, 26 May 1857 regarding reductions in provisions and pay of the military forces in Victoria.

3. Dispatches and private letters 1856 from Macarthur, as Administrator of Victoria, to Labouchere referring to: the death of Sir Charles Hotham; pardoning of convicts; proposed renewal of transportation; dissolution of the Legislative Council; the election of the first Victorian Parliament; and the arrival of Sir Henry Barkly.

4. Addresses and replies by Macarthur on his retirement as Administrator January 1857, and correspondence 20 August and 22 October 1857 regarding a proposed honour for himself.

5. Letters April-September 1857 by Macarthur and Barkly regarding medals struck in Victoria for the Queen.

Biographical / Historical:

Sir Edward Macarthur (1789-1872), the eldest son of Captain John and Elizabeth Macarthur, was born in Bath, England. He went to Australia in 1790 with his parents and spent his boyhood in Sydney and Parramatta. He sailed to England in 1799 to attend school. He returned to Sydney in 1806 and with his father took part in the overthrow of Governor Bligh in 1808. Macarthur returned to England, received a commission in the 60th Regiment, and served as a lieutenant in Wellington's campaigns in Spain in 1812-14. He later joined the army of occupation in France. He became a captain in 1821 and a major in 1826, before going on the half-pay list.

Macarthur visited New South Wales in 1824 and in subsequent years promoted the agricultural interests of the colony and encouraged emigration to Australia. In 1851 he resumed his military career when he was posted to New South Wales as deputy adjutant-general. Promoted colonel, he accompanied Major-General Sir Robert Nickle and the other headquarters staff when they transferred to Melbourne in 1854.

Nickle died in May 1855 and Macarthur took over the post of major-general in command of the Australian forces. The Governor of Victoria, Sir Charles Hotham, also died in December 1855 and Macarthur acted as governor until the arrival of Sir Henry Barkly in December 1856. In this position he presided over the inauguration of responsible government in Victoria. Macarthur remained in the colony as commander of the Australian forces until 1860. He was knighted in 1862 and was made a lieutenant-general in 1866.

Access and use

Conditions Governing Access:
Available for Access.
Conditions Governing Use:
Many of the records digitised as part of the AJCP are still in copyright. Readers wishing to publish or reproduce documents should seek permission, in the first instance, from the owner of the original material.
Preferred citation:

Acknowledgement of use of this material should refer to the location of the original material and to the Australian Joint Copying Project.

Items from this collection should include references to the location of the original material and to the AJCP nla.obj number, which serves as the online identifier for the digital copy.

Example: M Series: Journal of Capt. James Cook, 18 February 1770, British Library Add. MS 27885 (AJCP ref: http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-1234)

Location of this collection:
Parkes Place
Canberra ACT 2600, Australia
Contact: