Alexander McNaughtan (28 November 1815 – 6 August 1884) was a Scottish born merchant and businessman who emigrated to Van Diemen's Land (now Tasmania, Australia) in 1842. He produced a report for the Royal Society of Van Diemen's Land on combustible mineral substance from the Mersey River.[1]
Alexander McNaughtan | |
|---|---|
| Born | 28 November 1815 Milngavie, Dumbartonshire, Scotland |
| Died | 6 August 1884 (aged 68) |
| Known for | Merchant Businessman Philanthropist |
| Spouse |
Margaret Kerr (m. 1847) |
| Signature | |
 | |
Life and career edit
McNaughtan was born on the 28 November 1815 in Milngavie, Dumbartonshire, Scotland to Alexander McNaughtan, the local Presbyterian minister, and Janet, née Blackwood,[2] of the Craigallion/Craigton bleaching family. He was Christened at New Kilpatrick (now Bearsden) on 17 December 1815.[3][4]
He married his former boss's sister, Margaret Kerr, on 29 March 1849. The service was conducted by John Lillie at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church in Hobart.[5]
He returned to Hobart and lived with his wife until her death on 20 December 1868. On 12 January 1869 he sold his property[6] before returning to Scotland.[citation needed]
McNaughtan died of heart disease at the family home of Heatherbank on 6 August 1884.[2] He was buried under his father's headstone at the New Kilpatrick church alongside others in his family.[citation needed]
It is hypothesised by art researcher Stephen Scheding in his book "The National Picture" that McNaughtan may have been the last owner of Benjamin Duterrau's lost masterpiece, a large scale version of "The Conciliation". Scheding believed it was taken by McNaughtan to his family home of Heatherbank in 1869 however the picture has not been found.[7]
References edit
- ^ Centre, The University of Melbourne eScholarship Research. "McNaughtan, Alexander (1815 - 1884) - Bright Sparcs Biographical entry". www.asap.unimelb.edu.au. Retrieved 2022-03-10.
- ^ a b Pike, Douglas (1974). "McNaughtan, Alexander (1815–1884)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. Vol. 5. National Centre of Biography, Australian National University. ISSN 1833-7538. Retrieved 7 March 2022.
- ^ "Scotland Births and Baptisms, 1564-1950". FamilySearch. Retrieved 12 September 2022.
- ^ McNaughton, Ken. "Alexander McNaughtin—Tasmanian Benefactor" (PDF). clanmacnaughton.net. Retrieved 12 September 2022.
- ^ "Family Search". familysearch.org. Retrieved 12 September 2022.
- ^ "The Mercury (Hobart, Tas.:1860-1954)". Trove. National Library of Australia. 12 January 1869. Retrieved 10 March 2022.
- ^ Scheding, Stephen (2002). The National Picture (1 ed.). Milsons Point, NSW: Random House Australia Pty Ltd. pp. 229–255. ISBN 1 74051 066 6.