The Dictionary of Australasian Biography/MacGregor, Sir William
MacGregor, Sir William, K.C.M.G., M.D., administrator of British New Guinea, was born in 1846, and was brought up to the medical profession. He was admitted L.R.C.P. Edinburgh and M.B. Aberdeen in 1872, and M.D. of the latter university in 1874. He successively held the appointments of assistant Government medical officer at the Seychelles, superintendent of the lunatic asylum and resident surgeon at the Civil Hospital at Port Louis, Mauritius, assistant surgeon Royal Lunatic Asylum at Aberdeen, and surgeon and house physician at the Royal Infirmary, Glasgow. He was chief medical officer of Fiji from 1875 to 1877 and Receiver-General of the colony from 1877 to 1888, when he was appointed administrator of British New Guinea, in succession to the late Sir Peter Scratchley. He has received the Albert (second class) and Clarke medals for saving life at sea. He represented Fiji at the Federal Council of Australasia in 1886, and several times administered the government of Fiji, and acted as High Commissioner and Consul-General of the Western Pacific. Since his appointment as administrator of British New Guinea he has done some of the most remarkable exploration work yet achieved. He was created C.MG. in 1881 and K.C.M.G. in 1889.