Alexander McArthur
Encyclopedia
Alexander McArthur was an Australian and British businessman and politician in both countries.
McArthur was born at Enniskillen
, County Fermanagh, Ireland, the son of John McArthur, a Wesleyan
minister, and his wife Sarah, née Finlay. In 1830 he was apprenticed to a merchant in Omagh
. He emigrated to Australia
and arrived at Sydney
on 24 January 1842. After starting business with a consignment from his brother William McArthur, he became a partner of William Little and James H. Atkinson. He was a devout Methodist and in 1843 he was elected to the committee of the Wesleyan Auxiliary Missionary Society of New South Wales. He was also treasurer of the Young Men's Christian Association of Sydney and a committee member of the Benevolent Asylum, the New South Wales Auxiliary Bible Society and other charities.
McArthur returned to Ireland in 1848 and in 1850 he and his brother formed W. and A. McArthur & Co. merchants of softgoods. Back in Sydney in 1851, he was very successful as a shipping agent for the export of gold. His firm built a large warehouse in Sydney and opened branches in Adelaide, Melbourne, Brisbane and Auckland. McArthur visited England in 1854 and 1855. After this, he became a member of the Sydney Chamber of Commerce, took a share in the Australian Joint Stock Bank, and became a director of several building societies, insurance companies and mining companies. He also became a magistrate.
In June 1859 McArthur was elected to the New South Wales Legislative Assembly
for Newtown
. He was a free trader and opposed state aid to religion. After being re-elected for Newtown in December 1860, he resigned in June 1861 when he was appointed to the New South Wales Legislative Council
. In 1863 McArthur went to England to take over the London business and as a result vacated his seat through absence in October 1865.
McArthur was then a London merchant engaged in colonial trade and lived at Raleigh Hall, Brixton
. He was a J. P.
for Surrey
and Deputy Lieutenant
for the City of London
. He became a Fellow of the Imperial Institute and from 1863 a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society
. He became a member of the Royal Colonial Institute in 1869, and also of the Victoria Institute
and the British Association. From 1870 to 1873 he was a member of the first London School Board. In 1874 he was chosen as Liberal Candidate for Leicester
. As an "advanced Liberal", his programme had much in common with Joseph Chamberlain
's 'New Radicalism' and included the assimilation of the county to the borough franchise, reform of the land laws, abolition of clause 25 of the Education Act, and legislation against intemperance. He was elected Member of Parliament
for Leciester in 1874. In parliament he advocated the annexation of Fiji, stricter oservance of the Sabbath and Home Rule for Ireland. He retired after holding the seat for 18 years in 1892. In 1898 his firm became a limited liability company and in 1908 was reconstituted after liquidation. McArthur died at Sydenham, London at the age of 95.
McArthur married Maria Bowden, daughter of Rev. W. B. Boyce in August 1853 at Toxteth Park and had six sons and two daughters. His son William Alexander McArthur
also became an MP
He is buried with his family in a large mausoleum in West Norwood Cemetery
.
McArthur was born at Enniskillen
Enniskillen
Enniskillen is a town in County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland. It is located almost exactly in the centre of the county between the Upper and Lower sections of Lough Erne. It had a population of 13,599 in the 2001 Census...
, County Fermanagh, Ireland, the son of John McArthur, a Wesleyan
Wesleyanism
Wesleyanism or Wesleyan theology refers, respectively, to either the eponymous movement of Protestant Christians who have historically sought to follow the methods or theology of the eighteenth-century evangelical reformers, John Wesley and his brother Charles Wesley, or to the likewise eponymous...
minister, and his wife Sarah, née Finlay. In 1830 he was apprenticed to a merchant in Omagh
Omagh
Omagh is the county town of County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. It is situated where the rivers Drumragh and Camowen meet to form the Strule. The town, which is the largest in the county, had a population of 19,910 at the 2001 Census. Omagh also contains the headquarters of Omagh District Council and...
. He emigrated to Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
and arrived at Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
on 24 January 1842. After starting business with a consignment from his brother William McArthur, he became a partner of William Little and James H. Atkinson. He was a devout Methodist and in 1843 he was elected to the committee of the Wesleyan Auxiliary Missionary Society of New South Wales. He was also treasurer of the Young Men's Christian Association of Sydney and a committee member of the Benevolent Asylum, the New South Wales Auxiliary Bible Society and other charities.
In June 1859 McArthur was elected to the New South Wales Legislative Assembly
New South Wales Legislative Assembly
The Legislative Assembly, or lower house, is one of the two chambers of the Parliament of New South Wales, an Australian state. The other chamber is the Legislative Council. Both the Assembly and Council sit at Parliament House in the state capital, Sydney...
for Newtown
Electoral district of Newtown
Newtown was an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales, originally created in 1859, and named after and including the Sydney suburb of Newtown. It elected one member from 1859 to 1880, two members from 1880 to 1885, three members from 1885 to 1891...
. He was a free trader and opposed state aid to religion. After being re-elected for Newtown in December 1860, he resigned in June 1861 when he was appointed to the New South Wales Legislative Council
New South Wales Legislative Council
The New South Wales Legislative Council, or upper house, is one of the two chambers of the parliament of New South Wales in Australia. The other is the Legislative Assembly. Both sit at Parliament House in the state capital, Sydney. The Assembly is referred to as the lower house and the Council as...
. In 1863 McArthur went to England to take over the London business and as a result vacated his seat through absence in October 1865.
McArthur was then a London merchant engaged in colonial trade and lived at Raleigh Hall, Brixton
Brixton
Brixton is a district in the London Borough of Lambeth in south London, England. It is south south-east of Charing Cross. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London....
. He was a J. P.
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
for Surrey
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
and Deputy Lieutenant
Deputy Lieutenant
In the United Kingdom, a Deputy Lieutenant is one of several deputies to the Lord Lieutenant of a lieutenancy area; an English ceremonial county, Welsh preserved county, Scottish lieutenancy area, or Northern Irish county borough or county....
for the City of London
City of London
The City of London is a small area within Greater London, England. It is the historic core of London around which the modern conurbation grew and has held city status since time immemorial. The City’s boundaries have remained almost unchanged since the Middle Ages, and it is now only a tiny part of...
. He became a Fellow of the Imperial Institute and from 1863 a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society
Royal Geographical Society
The Royal Geographical Society is a British learned society founded in 1830 for the advancement of geographical sciences...
. He became a member of the Royal Colonial Institute in 1869, and also of the Victoria Institute
Victoria Institute
The Victoria Institute, or Philosophical Society of Great Britain, was founded in 1865, as a response to the publication of On the Origin of Species and Essays and Reviews. Its stated objective was to defend "the great truths revealed in Holy Scripture .....
and the British Association. From 1870 to 1873 he was a member of the first London School Board. In 1874 he was chosen as Liberal Candidate for Leicester
Leicester (UK Parliament constituency)
Leicester was a parliamentary borough in Leicestershire, which elected two Members of Parliament to the House of Commons from 1295 until 1918, when it was split into three single-member divisions.-History:...
. As an "advanced Liberal", his programme had much in common with Joseph Chamberlain
Joseph Chamberlain
Joseph Chamberlain was an influential British politician and statesman. Unlike most major politicians of the time, he was a self-made businessman and had not attended Oxford or Cambridge University....
's 'New Radicalism' and included the assimilation of the county to the borough franchise, reform of the land laws, abolition of clause 25 of the Education Act, and legislation against intemperance. He was elected Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
for Leciester in 1874. In parliament he advocated the annexation of Fiji, stricter oservance of the Sabbath and Home Rule for Ireland. He retired after holding the seat for 18 years in 1892. In 1898 his firm became a limited liability company and in 1908 was reconstituted after liquidation. McArthur died at Sydenham, London at the age of 95.
McArthur married Maria Bowden, daughter of Rev. W. B. Boyce in August 1853 at Toxteth Park and had six sons and two daughters. His son William Alexander McArthur
William Alexander McArthur
William Alexander McArthur , was a British Liberal politician.McArthur was born in Australia, the son of Alexander McArthur and his wife Maria Boden. His father was a businessman and politician in Australia and England, becoming MP for Leicester...
also became an MP
He is buried with his family in a large mausoleum in West Norwood Cemetery
West Norwood Cemetery
West Norwood Cemetery is a cemetery in West Norwood in London, England. It was also known as the South Metropolitan Cemetery.One of the first private landscaped cemeteries in London, it is one of the Magnificent Seven cemeteries of London, and is a site of major historical, architectural and...
.