Elizabeth Macquarie
Encyclopedia
Elizabeth Macquarie was the second wife of Lachlan Macquarie
who served as Governor of New South Wales from 1810 to 1821. She played a significant role in the establishment of the colony and is recognised in the naming of numerous Australian landmarks including Mrs Macquarie's Chair
, Campbelltown
and numerous Elizabeth Streets, e.g. in Hobart
.
Born Elizabeth Henrietta Campbell, she was the youngest daughter of John Campbell of Airds, Scotland
. A distant cousin of Macquarie's she first met him at the age of 26 when he was an army officer. They were married three years later in 1807. Shortly after, in 1809, he was appointed to the governorship of New South Wales and she followed him. She is said to have taken a particular interest in the welfare of women convict
s and indigenous people as well as helping pioneer hay
making in the colony. Elizabeth's library of books on architecture were used by her husband and architect Francis Greenway
in the planning of government buildings.
During her time in Australia she traveled to Tasmania
in 1811, across the Blue Mountains in 1815, and in 1818 to the Hunter River.
At the end of her husband's term, she returned with him to Scotland in 1823, living at the Macquarie estate of Jarvisfield on the Isle of Mull
. The Macquaries had two children, a girl Jane who died in infancy and a boy Lachlan. Following her husband's death in London in 1824, Elizabeth lived with a ₤400 pension from the British government. From 1825 to 1828 she lived in Surrey and Middlesex, spending summers at Jarvisfield. In 1828-29 she lived in London at 58 Upper Charlotte Street in a house that was bequeathed to her by her friend Henrietta Meredith. In 1830 she moved to Aberdeen
, returning to Jarvisfield the next yeawr when Lachlan purchased a commission in the Army. She died at Gruline House on March 11, 1835, and was posthumously granted 2000 acres (809.4 ha) of land in New South Wales.
Lachlan Macquarie
Major-General Lachlan Macquarie CB , was a British military officer and colonial administrator. He served as the last autocratic Governor of New South Wales, Australia from 1810 to 1821 and had a leading role in the social, economic and architectural development of the colony...
who served as Governor of New South Wales from 1810 to 1821. She played a significant role in the establishment of the colony and is recognised in the naming of numerous Australian landmarks including Mrs Macquarie's Chair
Mrs Macquarie's Chair
Mrs Macquarie's Chair is an exposed sandstone rock cut into the shape of a bench, on a peninsula in Sydney Harbour, hand carved by convicts from sandstone in 1810 for Governor Macquarie's wife Elizabeth. The peninsula itself is named Mrs Macquaries Point...
, Campbelltown
Campbelltown, New South Wales
Campbelltown is a suburb in south-western Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Campbelltown is located 51 kilometres south-west of the Sydney central business district and is the administrative centre for the local government area of the City of Campbelltown.- History :Campbelltown...
and numerous Elizabeth Streets, e.g. in Hobart
Elizabeth Street, Hobart
Elizabeth Street is a major street which runs North-South through the city and suburbs of Hobart, Tasmania, Australia. It is named after Elizabeth Macquarie, the wife of the Governor of New South Wales from 1810-1821, Lachlan Macquarie....
.
Born Elizabeth Henrietta Campbell, she was the youngest daughter of John Campbell of Airds, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
. A distant cousin of Macquarie's she first met him at the age of 26 when he was an army officer. They were married three years later in 1807. Shortly after, in 1809, he was appointed to the governorship of New South Wales and she followed him. She is said to have taken a particular interest in the welfare of women convict
Convict
A convict is "a person found guilty of a crime and sentenced by a court" or "a person serving a sentence in prison", sometimes referred to in slang as simply a "con". Convicts are often called prisoners or inmates. Persons convicted and sentenced to non-custodial sentences often are not termed...
s and indigenous people as well as helping pioneer hay
Hay
Hay is grass, legumes or other herbaceous plants that have been cut, dried, and stored for use as animal fodder, particularly for grazing livestock such as cattle, horses, goats, and sheep. Hay is also fed to pets such as rabbits and guinea pigs...
making in the colony. Elizabeth's library of books on architecture were used by her husband and architect Francis Greenway
Francis Greenway
-References:* *...
in the planning of government buildings.
During her time in Australia she traveled to Tasmania
Tasmania
Tasmania is an Australian island and state. It is south of the continent, separated by Bass Strait. The state includes the island of Tasmania—the 26th largest island in the world—and the surrounding islands. The state has a population of 507,626 , of whom almost half reside in the greater Hobart...
in 1811, across the Blue Mountains in 1815, and in 1818 to the Hunter River.
At the end of her husband's term, she returned with him to Scotland in 1823, living at the Macquarie estate of Jarvisfield on the Isle of Mull
Isle of Mull
The Isle of Mull or simply Mull is the second largest island of the Inner Hebrides, off the west coast of Scotland in the council area of Argyll and Bute....
. The Macquaries had two children, a girl Jane who died in infancy and a boy Lachlan. Following her husband's death in London in 1824, Elizabeth lived with a ₤400 pension from the British government. From 1825 to 1828 she lived in Surrey and Middlesex, spending summers at Jarvisfield. In 1828-29 she lived in London at 58 Upper Charlotte Street in a house that was bequeathed to her by her friend Henrietta Meredith. In 1830 she moved to Aberdeen
Aberdeen
Aberdeen is Scotland's third most populous city, one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas and the United Kingdom's 25th most populous city, with an official population estimate of ....
, returning to Jarvisfield the next yeawr when Lachlan purchased a commission in the Army. She died at Gruline House on March 11, 1835, and was posthumously granted 2000 acres (809.4 ha) of land in New South Wales.