(1766 - 1834)

Macarthur was born in England in 1766, and in 1872 bought an army commission. As this was only on half pay, he lived in the country and educated himself as well as learning all the latest agricultural skills. It was during this time that he met and married Elizabeth Veale. By 1789 he was a lieutenant in the New South Wales Corps(PEP), and his family arrived in Sydney in June 1790.

Macarthur became one of the most influential officers in the Corps during the 1790s, and was stationed in Parramatta. He received a land parcel in 1793 which he named Elizabeth Farm. For the next three years he was inspector of public works and had authority over the Hawkesbury and Parramatta settlements, and was also paymaster of crops until 1800. Following a dispute with Governor Hunter in 1801 he was sent to England to face disciplinary charges, and while there he resigned from the army.

Returning to the colony he publicised his sheep breeding experiments, and was granted 5,000 acres of land which he named Camden Park. He was instrumental in the deposition of Governor Bligh in 1808, following which he was virtual leader of the colony for six months. He aimed at various constitutional reforms and went to England in 1809 to propose them to an unsympathetic government.

During the 1820s he was influential as he advised Commissioner Bigge during his enquiries into the affairs of the colony. By this time his sheep estates were immense and very successful, being largely run and managed by his wife Elizabeth. In 1825 he was elected onto the new legislative council, but was removed in 1832, having been declared insane. He died at Camden Park in 1834.

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