Macleay, Sir William, 1820 – 1891

Sir William John Macleay (1820-1891), pastoralist, patron of science and parliamentarian, was born at Caithness, Scotland, son of Kenneth and Barbara Macleay. He was educated at Edinburgh Academy and entered the medical school of the University of Edinburgh in 1834 but was orphaned in 1837. Left with little money and two younger brothers to educate Macleay took the advice of his uncle Alexander Macleay (1767-1848) to migrate to Sydney. He arrived at Sydney in 1839 with his brother Walter.

Alexander Macleay and his sons William Sharpe Macleay (1792-1865) and George Macleay (1809-1891) had an interest in natural history which complimented and encouraged Macleay's own interest in science. Macleay initially joined his cousins on the Macleay family pastoral holdings before taking up his own pastoral holdings. He was appointed a magistrate at Wagga Wagga in 1841 and sat on the bench from 1847, he served on the National school board and in 1851 was a founder of the Murrumbidgee Turf Club.

Macleay was an elected member of the old Legislative Council (1855-1856) for the Lachlan and Lower Darling Pastoral District and after responsible government was elected a member of the NSW Legislative Assembly for the seat (1856-1858). He was elected member of the Legislative Assembly for seat of The Murrumbidgee (1859-1874) and was an appointed member of the NSW Legislative Council (1877-1891).

Macleay was a trustee of the Free Public Library, 1870-1891, he was elected to the Senate of the University of Sydney in 1875 and was knighted in 1889. Macleay's lifelong interest in science resulted in a large collection of specimens, bequeathed to the University of Sydney on his death and now forming the basis of the Macleay Museum collection at the University. In 1857 Macleay married Susan Emmeline, daughter of Edward Deas Thomson (1800-1879). His second wife was Anna Maria, daughter of Sir Richard Burke. [ref:ADB 5]