Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Macarthur, Edward

1452045Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900, Volume 34 — Macarthur, Edward1893Henry Manners Chichester

MACARTHUR or McARTHER, EDWARD (1789–1872), lieutenant-general, eldest son of John Macarthur [q. v.] of Camden Park, New South Wales, was born at Bath, England, in 1789, and accompanied his parents to New South Wales the year after. His early years were passed at Parramatta, near Sydney. On 27 Oct. 1808 he was appointed ensign in the 60th royal Americans, and with the old second battalion (now 1st battalion king's royal rifles) was present in the Corunna campaign. On 9 July 1809 he was promoted to a lieutenancy in the 39th foot. With the 1st battalion 39th he served in Sicily during Murat's threatened invasion from the opposite coast, joined Wellington's army in the Peninsula in 1812, and was present at the battles of Vittoria, the Pyrenees, the investment of Bayonne, and the battles at Nivelle, the Nive, Orthez, and Toulouse. During the latter part of the time he was on the personal staff of his old colonel, Sir Robert William O'Callaghan. He accompanied his regiment from Bordeaux to Canada in 1814, and was with it at the Pittsburg fiasco, and afterwards with the army of occupation in France. He became captain 8 Feb. 1821, and on 10 June 1826 was promoted to a majority on half-pay unattached. For some years he was secretary in the lord chamberlain's office at the House of Lords. In 1837 he was appointed an assistant adjutant-general in Ireland, and on 23 Nov. 1841 became a brevet lieutenant-colonel unattached, and was appointed deputy adjutant-general in the Australian colonies, a post he held until 1855. He became a brevet-colonel in 1854, and in 1855 succeeded Sir Robert Nickle in the command of the troops, with the rank of major-general, in Australia. On the death of Sir Charles Hotham [see Hotham, Sir Charles], Macarthur, as senior military officer, became acting-governor of Victoria, and administered the government of that colony from 1 Jan. to 31 Dec. 1856. He became a major-general 26 Oct. 1858. He held the military command in Australia until 1860, when he returned home and was made a C.B., and in 1862 K.C.B. and colonel of the 100th regiment or royal Canadians. He became a lieutenant-general 14 June 1866. He had the Peninsular medal and seven clasps. Macarthur died in London 4 June 1872, aged 82. He left property in England and Australia (for will see Times, 20 July 1872).

Macarthur married Sarah, third daughter of Lieutenant-colonel William Smith Neill, and sister of Brigadier James George Smith Neill [q. v.], who fell at Lucknow.

[Hart's Army List; Cannon's Hist. Rec. 39th Dorsetshire Regiment; Heaton's Australian Dictionary of Dates, p. 122.]

H. M. C.