EMPIRE AND COLONIAL ADMINISTRATION
The Papers of Lachlan Macquarie (1762-1824)and family from the State Library of New South Wales

Lachlan Macquarie (1762-1824) has been described by historians as a visionary and realist, and a man particularly noted for his liberal attitude towards emancipists.  Empire and Colonial Administration features his papers and those of his family held at the Mitchell Library in the State Library of New South Wales. Macquarie’s journals, diaries and letterbooks, written throughout his adult life from 1787-1824 describe his military career in India, Egypt and Britain, and his period as Governor of New South Wales and Van Diemen’s Land, 1809-1821.

John Ritchie describes Macquarie as ‘This low-born Scottish exile, distanced from the metropolitan Georgian society, [who] was given the chance in 1810 to behave largely as he wished: with self-effacing humanity and a common touch, he chose to use his vast authority to attempt nothing less than the regeneration of the fallen men and women under his sway ... his letters and diaries – which reveal a quiet sense of humour – were written in a large, plain hand, with frequent underlining, capital letters, and exclamation marks.’ 

Macquarie was born on the island of Ulva in the Hebrides, of Scottish-born parents, Lachlan Macquarie, a carpenter and tenant farmer, and Margaret his wife. Young Macquarie spent his boyhood on the Isle of Mull before being sent to Edinburgh as a border to a private schoolmaster. He enlisted in the Royal Highland Emigrants in 1776 and served in Canada, America and Jamaica before being posted to India as a lieutenant in 1788. While in India he served in the sieges of Cananore (1790) and Cochin (1795), was witness to the capture of Colombo (1796) and was present at the battle of Seringapatam (1799). In 1801 he took part in the Egyptian campaign. During this period Macquarie won promotion to captain (1789), major (1801) and lieutenant-colonel (1805), he was also military secretary to the Governor of Bombay, Jonathon Duncan, and deputy-adjutant-general of Sir David Baird’s army in Egypt. On home leave he officiated as assistant adjutant-general for the London district, 1803-1805.

In a private ceremony at Bombay in 1793 Macquarie married Jane Jarvis (1772-1796) a West Indian heiress, but the marriage was brief when she died of tuberculosis three years later. He remarried in 1807 to Elizabeth Henrietta (1778-1835), the daughter of John Campbell of Airds. Elizabeth provided loyal support to Macquarie throughout his life and bore him a son, Lachlan, (b.1814). Macquarie in return is described as a loving husband and doting father.

In 1810 Macquarie took office as Governor of New South Wales and Van Diemen’s Land, in place of William Bligh. In this new appointment one of his first concerns was to tackle the deplorable state of public morality, denouncing cohabitation outside of marriage, reducing the number of public houses and promoting the sanctity of the Sabbath. During his period of office from 1810-1821 he introduced system and efficiency to the government, sometimes defying opposition from the church and legal authorities. Under his administration the antipodean outpost grew in population from 11,590 to 38,778, agricultural land increased from 7,500 to 32,000 acres and the numbers of sheep and cattle raised multiplied rapidly. Roads, bridges, houses, churches, schools and hospitals were built, as well as parks and gardens. Improvements were made in trade and manufacturing, and banking and currency. In 1813 Macquarie was promoted to major-general.

Macquarie’s administration was particularly notable for his liberal attitudes towards emancipists. He believed that ex-convicts, on expiry or remission of their sentences, provided they were well behaved, should be restored to their former status in society enjoying the rights of free men. It was his policy to appoint emancipists to positions of authority in the public service, but it was a policy which was unpopular with the ‘exclusives’ among the minority of the population which had come to New South Wales as free immigrants. The hostility of the colonial gentry and military was further felt with regard to Macquarie’s policy towards the Aborigines, whom he attempted to introduce to the agricultural methods of Europe. This policy also included the organisation of the annual native festival at Parramatta, and the opening of the first school for Aboriginal children.

Macquarie’s liberal policies, and his extensive and far-sighted public works programme led to divisions in society both in Australia and in London. In 1819 in order to ascertain the true state of the colony John Thomas Brigge was appointed as royal commissioner of enquiry. Macquarie resigned in 1821 and sailed for England with his family aboard the Surrey. Brigge’s report recommended that the cost of the penal settlement be reduced and transported convicts be punished more severely. In England, Macquarie attempted to vindicate his beliefs and restore his reputation. Exhausted and disheartened he travelled to Europe with Elizabeth and their son in 1822-1823, returning to Mull. He died one year later.

The life and career of Lachlan Macquarie and his family is fully documented in his journals, papers and correspondence. There is good material on his private and public life covering his military career in India, Egypt and Britain, and as Governor of New South Wales and Van Diemen’s Land.

Correspondents for 1793-1824 include George Canning, Viscount Castlereagh, James Drummond, John Oxley, William Wilberforce, Earl Bathurst, Samuel Marsden, Brigadier-General James Dunlop, William Bligh, Duncan Campbell and Elizabeth Macquarie.

There are copies of outgoing letters written in Macquarie’s hand for 1793-1810 and 1822-1823 to individuals such as Lieutenant General Sir David Baird, Earl Bathurst, Major General Sir Harry Calvert, George Canning, Viscount Castlereagh, Jonathon Duncan, Brigadier-General James Dunlop, Sir Charles Forbes, George Jarvis, Murdoch Maclaine of Lochbuy, and Charles Macquarie.

The long sequence of journals from 1787-1824 describe his tours of New South Wales and Van Diemen’s Land, his experiences in India, Egypt and Britain and his grand tour of Europe.

This is an important collection for all those interested in Empire and Colonial Administration, documenting the ways in which Lachlan Macquarie shaped and administered his policies, as well as the reactions and controversies caused by such actions. John Ritche writes, ‘Of all the features of his administration, Macquarie regarded his emancipist policy as most worthy of praise.’   

This project dovetails well with the Journeys in Time digital initiative launched by Macquarie University which provides transcripts of the journals of Lachlan and Elizabeth Macquarie for the period 1809-1822. The transcripts are presented with historical background information including people, places, maps and ships, a chronology of the period, plus bibliography. This material can be located at http://www.lib.mq.edu.au/all/journeys/ .