| AdminHistory | Alexander Macleay (1767-1848), entomologist and civil servant in Australia, born in Ross-shire, Scotland, 24 June 1767. Education unknown. Moved to London in 1788 and formed a partnership with William Sharp, a London wine merchant. Married Elizabeth née Barclay (1769-1847) in London, 15 October 1791. Chief clerk in the prisoner of war section of the Transport Office, 1795; head of the correspondence department, 1797; secretary to the board, 1807-1817. Director of the British Fisheries Association
Elected FLS in 1794, and served as the Linnean Society's secretary from 1798 to 1825. FRS 1808. Corresponding member of several European learned societies and published several monographs. His collection of insects considered one of the finest in Europe.
In 1825 he accepted an offer from Earl Bathurst to become colonial secretary in New South Wales, reaching Sydney with his wife and six daughters on 5 January 1826. Maintained his scientific interests and continued to enlarge the collection he had brought from England, kept in contact with the Royal and Linnean societies, and worked on horticulture and natural history.
Died Sydney, 18 July 1848, following a carriage accident. |