David McLaren (Colonial Manager)
Encyclopedia
David McLaren was a Scottish accountant and lay preacher who served as Resident Manager of the South Australian Company for the Colony of South Australia
from 1837 to 1841.
, he was appointed emigration agent for South Australia and sold shares in the South Australian Company. Then he was offered the post of Manager of the Colony; he sailed in the South Australian and landed at Kingscote, Kangaroo Island
in April 1837. He did not have the practical skills and knowledge of his predecessor, Samuel Stephens
, but he was an effective money-manager and by prudent investment (and some constructive bookkeeping) he improved the fortunes of the Company and its subsidiary South Australian Bank, while making few friends. He appears to fit the stereotype of the parsimonious Scot: the editor of the Register
on the occasion of his farewell dinner wrote of a man wielding "immense influence for good or for evil ... object of divided feelings ... (not always acting on) right or sound and comprehensive views". And the triumphs of his administration, the New Port and the Company's banking operations, he ascribes to G. S. Kingston and Edward Stephens respectively. The Register (or the South Australian Gazette and Colonial Register as it was then titled) was scathing in its criticism of both McLaren and the Resident Commissioner J. H. Fisher.
In January 1841 he returned to London as the Company's manager and continued to run its business profitably, and to the benefit of the Colony. Evidence he gave to the select committee on Australian shipping led to the repeal of the Navigation Acts in 1849.
's cottage in Rundle Street, later the site of Charles Birks' shop. He carried out baptisms in the River Torrens
in 1840.
His son, the eminent Baptist preacher and author, Alexander Maclaren
(1826 – 1910) visited Australia in 1889.
(or McLaren's Vale) was named for him: the time of its naming and the Manager's eminence support this argument, but the weight of opinion is for the surveyor (later deputy Surveyor-general) John McLaren (died 17 July 1885), who worked in the area.
A wharf at Port Adelaide was named for him.
John McDouall Stuart
named McLaren Creek for him.
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
from 1837 to 1841.
Biography
In 1835, through acquaintanceship with George Fife AngasGeorge Fife Angas
George Fife Angas was an English businessman and banker who, from England, played a significant part in the formation and establishment of the Colony of South Australia. He established the South Australian Company and was its founding chairman of the board of directors...
, he was appointed emigration agent for South Australia and sold shares in the South Australian Company. Then he was offered the post of Manager of the Colony; he sailed in the South Australian and landed at Kingscote, Kangaroo Island
Kingscote, South Australia
- Facilities :Kingscote has a school offering years 1 to 12, a hospital, supermarket, post office and Government offices. It is the administrative centre for the Kangaroo Island Council, whose offices have recently undergone a significant upgrade....
in April 1837. He did not have the practical skills and knowledge of his predecessor, Samuel Stephens
Samuel Stephens (Colonial Manager)
Samuel Stephens was an English businessman who was the first Colonial Manager appointed by the South Australian Company to the new colony of South Australia.He was born the eighth son of one Rev. John Stephens...
, but he was an effective money-manager and by prudent investment (and some constructive bookkeeping) he improved the fortunes of the Company and its subsidiary South Australian Bank, while making few friends. He appears to fit the stereotype of the parsimonious Scot: the editor of the Register
South Australian Register
The Register, originally the South Australian Gazette and Colonial Register, was the first South Australian newspaper. It was first published in London in June 1836 and folded almost a century later in February 1931....
on the occasion of his farewell dinner wrote of a man wielding "immense influence for good or for evil ... object of divided feelings ... (not always acting on) right or sound and comprehensive views". And the triumphs of his administration, the New Port and the Company's banking operations, he ascribes to G. S. Kingston and Edward Stephens respectively. The Register (or the South Australian Gazette and Colonial Register as it was then titled) was scathing in its criticism of both McLaren and the Resident Commissioner J. H. Fisher.
In January 1841 he returned to London as the Company's manager and continued to run its business profitably, and to the benefit of the Colony. Evidence he gave to the select committee on Australian shipping led to the repeal of the Navigation Acts in 1849.
Church and Family
McLaren travelled alone to Australia, leaving his wife and family behind; his social life in the colony appears to have centred on his church - he acted as minister for a Baptist congregation which from July or September 1838 met at W. FinlaysonWilliam Finlayson (churchman)
William Finlayson was a churchman and farmer in the early days of South Australia, and father of nine children including two sons prominent in the early days of that colony.-William Finlayson:...
's cottage in Rundle Street, later the site of Charles Birks' shop. He carried out baptisms in the River Torrens
River Torrens
The River Torrens is the most significant river of the Adelaide Plains and was one of the reasons for the siting of the city of Adelaide, capital of South Australia. It flows from its source in the Adelaide Hills near Mount Pleasant, across the Adelaide Plains, past the city centre and empties...
in 1840.
His son, the eminent Baptist preacher and author, Alexander Maclaren
Alexander Maclaren
Alexander Maclaren was an English non-conformist minister of Scottish origin.-Biography:Maclaren was born in Glasgow, Scotland, the son of David Maclaren, a merchant and Baptist lay preacher. In 1836, his father went to Australia where from 1837 to 1841 he served as Resident Manager of the South...
(1826 – 1910) visited Australia in 1889.
Recognition
It is possible that McLaren ValeMcLaren Vale, South Australia
McLaren Vale is a township in the wine region of McLaren Vale in South Australia. At the 2006 census, McLaren Vale had a population of 2,908....
(or McLaren's Vale) was named for him: the time of its naming and the Manager's eminence support this argument, but the weight of opinion is for the surveyor (later deputy Surveyor-general) John McLaren (died 17 July 1885), who worked in the area.
A wharf at Port Adelaide was named for him.
John McDouall Stuart
John McDouall Stuart
John McDouall Stuart was one of the most accomplished and famous of all Australia's inland explorers. Stuart led the first successful expedition to traverse the Australian mainland from south to north and return, and the first to do so from a starting point in South Australia, achieving this...
named McLaren Creek for him.