Wentworth, William Charles, 1790 – 1872

William Charles Wentworth (1790-1872), explorer, barrister, landowner and parliamentarian, was the son of D'Arcy Wentworth and Catherine Crowley. Catherine Crowley was transported on the ship 'Neptune' arriving at Sydney in 1790 and then to Norfolk Island on the 'Surprize' with D'Arcy and the infant William. Catherine Crowley died in 1800 and William was sent to England to attend school returning in 1810. He was granted land on the Nepean in 1811 and in 1813 accompanied William Lawson and Gregory Blaxland in their exploration of the Blue Mountains. Governor Macquarie granted him a further one thousand acres for crossing the mountains. Wentworth returned to England in 1816 and was admitted to the English bar in 1822. Wentworth returned to Sydney in 1824. Wentworth acquired further land holdings after his father's death in 1827 and acquired Vaucluse in that year. Wentworth was an elected member of the old Legislative Council (1843-1854). He was a member of the NSW Legislative Council (1861-1862). [ref:ADB 2]