Colonial Governor, Lachlan Macquarie Biography

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Colonial governor Lachlan Macquarie (born 31 January and he died on 1762–1 July, 1824). He was the sixth Governor of New South Wales and was regarded by many as the actual founder of Australia. He was born on the Isle of Mull in the Hebrides islands of Scotland. He joined the Army in 1776 and served in India, North America and Egypt. After serving for 12 years as a Captain he considered leaving the Army, but his break came in 1808 when he was appointed Governor of New South Wales. He was given an order to restore government and tidy up in the colony following the Rum Rebellion against Governor Bligh.

Macquarie was a conservative guy who believed in church for all (even convicts). When he arrived in Sydney in December 1809, he found a problematic colony which was pretty much a prison camp, with hardly 5000 Europeans. Macquarie ruled the colony as a smart leader, breaking the power of the Army officers such as John Macarthur who had been in control of the place since Bligh's loss of government.

Macquarie made it show that he had a clear view for Australia's future. He started the building of roads, bridges, wharves, churches and public buildings. The oldest standing buildings in Sydney have his name inscribed on them. He appointed magistrates to outlying posts such as Tasmania and New Zealand. He founded towns such as Richmond, Windsor, Pitt Town and Castlereagh. He appointed a Colonial Secretary, a government printer and an architect. All these actions showed his view that New South Wales, despite it being a penal settlement, was now to be viewed as a part of the British monarch, where free people would live and eventually self govern.

The end of the Napoleon Wars in 1815 brought a flood of...