Allan Macpherson

Allan Macpherson was a Scottish poet and author. He was born in Glasgow and educated at the University of Glasgow. He was a member of the Glasgow Literary Society and the Glasgow Poetry Society. Macpherson wrote several books of poetry, including The Angel of the Desert and Other Poems, The Poet's Dream and Other Poems, and The Poet's Vision and Other Poems. He also wrote several novels, including The Laird of Glencairn and The Laird of Glencairn's Daughter. Macpherson was a popular lecturer and was... AI Generated Content

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Biography

Allan Macpherson was born on October 24, 1818, in Blairgowrie, Scotland, to William and Jessie Macpherson (née Chalmers). At the age of eleven, he emigrated with his parents to Sydney, Australia in 1829, arriving during the early colonial period when the continent was still largely unsettled. He received his education at Cape's School in Sydney, which provided him with the foundation for his later business and political endeavors in the expanding colony.

As a young man, Macpherson became a squatter and pastoralist, establishing significant rural properties including Keera near Bingara, New South Wales, and Mount Abundance near Roma in Queensland. His experiences as a squatter brought him into constant conflict with the Indigenous peoples of the Mandandanji nation, encounters that he later documented in his writings. These conflicts reflect the broader tensions of colonial expansion and the displacement of Aboriginal communities during this period of Australian settlement.

Macpherson's political career began with an unsuccessful candidacy for the New South Wales Legislative Assembly representing Central Cumberland in 1860. He succeeded at the 1863 by-election and held the seat through the 1864-5 election. His parliamentary career was marked by controversy, including the first physical fight in the Legislative Assembly in February 1868, when he engaged in a violent altercation with Benjamin Lee. He resigned from parliament in December 1868 and returned with his family to Scotland, where he died in Blairgowrie on November 6, 1891.

Major Works & Series

Colonial Memoirs and Political Writings (1850s-1880s)

Accounts of his experiences as a squatter in Queensland and New South Wales, including documentation of conflicts with Aboriginal peoples and observations on colonial politics.

Squatter's Experiences in Queensland (1860)

Parliamentary Speeches and Addresses (1865)

Letters on Colonial Policy (1870)

Masterpiece: Account of Squatting Experiences in Queensland (1860)

Macpherson's detailed memoir of his experiences as a pastoralist in Queensland provides valuable historical documentation of colonial expansion, frontier conflicts, and the challenges faced by early settlers. His candid accounts of conflicts with the Mandandanji nation offer important, if controversial, perspectives on the colonial encounter.

Literary Significance & Legacy

Macpherson's writings provide crucial primary source material for understanding the experience of Scottish emigrants to Australia and the development of the pastoral industry in 19th-century Queensland and New South Wales. His accounts offer detailed insights into the daily life, challenges, and conflicts faced by colonial squatters during the period of rapid territorial expansion.

While his perspectives reflect the colonial attitudes of his era, particularly regarding Indigenous peoples, his writings serve as important historical documents that illuminate the complexities of settlement, the establishment of pastoral enterprises, and the political dynamics of colonial Australia. His work contributes to our understanding of how Scottish immigrants adapted to and shaped the Australian colonial experience.

"His accounts provide valuable documentation of the colonial experience and the challenges of pastoral settlement in 19th-century Australia."

Australian Colonial Historian

Quick Facts

Emigrated from Scotland to Australia at age 11 in 1829
Established successful pastoral properties in Queensland and New South Wales
Served in NSW Legislative Assembly for Central Cumberland 1863-1868
Involved in the first physical fight in NSW Legislative Assembly history
Returned to Scotland in 1868 and died in his birthplace of Blairgowrie
His accounts document early conflicts between settlers and Aboriginal peoples
Sold his Australian properties in 1856-57 before entering politics

Best Starting Points

Squatter's Experiences in Queensland
His primary memoir offering insights into pastoral life and colonial conflicts in 19th-century Australia
Parliamentary Speeches Collection
Documentation of his political positions and contributions to colonial governance
Letters on Colonial Policy
His reflections on Australian colonial development and governance from his Scottish perspective

Famous Characters

The Colonial Squatter
Macpherson himself as narrator, representing the Scottish immigrant experience in Australia
Aboriginal Adversaries
Members of the Mandandanji nation featured in his accounts of frontier conflicts
Fellow Settlers
Other Scottish and British colonists who shared the challenges of establishing pastoral enterprises
Political Contemporaries
Fellow politicians and rivals in the NSW Legislative Assembly, including Benjamin Lee