James William Macarthur-Onslow
Encyclopedia
Major General
Hon James William Macarthur-Onslow VD
(7 November 1867 – 17 November 1946) was a soldier, grazier and politician. The son of a prominent New South Wales
family, he was commissioned in the New South Wales Mounted Rifles in 1892 and served in the Chitral Expedition
, Boer War
and Great War. Afterwards he served in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly
and New South Wales Legislative Council
.
, near Menangle, New South Wales
, the son of Captain
Arthur Alexander Walton Onslow and his wife Elizabeth née Macarthur, the granddaughter of wool pioneer John Macarthur
. He was educated at Sydney Grammar School
. His father died in 1882 and in 1887 his mother took her children to the United Kingdom
to complete their education while she studied dairy farming
. Macarthur-Onslow read law at Trinity College, Cambridge
, receiving Bachelor of Arts
(BA) and Bachelor of Laws
(LLB) degrees in 1890. He returned to Australia in 1891. He married Enid Emma Macarthur, the granddaughter of Hannibal Hawkins Macarthur in 1897. - James' great-grandfather and Enid's great-grandfather were brothers.
Squadron of the New South Wales Mounted Rifles in 1892. In 1894 he was selected by commandant of the military forces in New South Wales, Colonel Edward Hutton, for training in India with the 11th Hussars
, the Royal Artillery
, and the 1st Battalion, King's Royal Rifle Corps
of the British Army
. He served in India
from 1894 to 1895, seeing active service in the Chitral Expedition
.
In 1900 he made his own way to South Africa
in 1900 to participate in the Boer War
, where he served as aide-de-camp
to Hutton, who was now a major general. He participated in operations in the Orange Free State
from February to May 1900, including the actions at Vet River and Zand River, and operations in the Transvaal
from May to November 1900. For this service, he was mentioned in despatches by Field Marshal Lord Roberts
. He returned to Australia in March 1901, but was later appointed to command the 5th Battalion, Australian Commonwealth Horse
.
He served as aide-de-camp
to the Governor-General of Australia
, the Earl of Hopetoun
in 1902. He commanded the 2nd Light Horse Regiment from July 1903 until December 1907 when he was promoted to colonel
on assuming command of the 1st Light Horse Brigade. He was on the unattached list in January 1910. Although too old for active service during the Great War, Macarthur-Onslow held the rank of Colonel
with the Sea Transport Service of the First Australian Imperial Force
, commanding troop ships travelling between Australia, the Middle East
and Britain between 1915 and 1917. He was aide-de-camp to the Governor-General a second time from 1917 to 1920. He retired with the rank of major general
in 1924.
, representing the seats of Waverley
from 1907 to 1913, Bondi
from 1913 to 1920, and Eastern Suburbs from 1920 to 1922. He was nominated to the New South Wales Legislative Council
in 1922, then a lifetime appointment, and served there until 1933, but was largely inactive.
. His other appointments included president of the Australian Club
and director of the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital
1909 until 1929.
Macarthur-Onslow died at Camden Park and was survived by his wife, his son and his two daughters. His papers are in the Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales
.
Father
Mother
Siblings (5 brothers, 2 sisters)
Wife
Children
Major General (Australia)
Major General is a senior rank of the Australian Army, and was created as a direct equivalent of the British military rank of Major General. It is the third-highest active rank of the Australian Army, and is considered to be equivalent to a two-star rank...
Hon James William Macarthur-Onslow VD
Volunteer Decoration
The Volunteer Officers' Decoration was created by Royal Warrant under command of Queen Victoria on 25 July 1892 to reward 'efficient and capable' officers of the Volunteer Force who had served for twenty years...
(7 November 1867 – 17 November 1946) was a soldier, grazier and politician. The son of a prominent New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
family, he was commissioned in the New South Wales Mounted Rifles in 1892 and served in the Chitral Expedition
Chitral Expedition
The Chitral Expedition was a military expedition in 1895 sent by the British authorities to relieve the fort at Chitral which was under siege after a local coup.-Background to the conflict:Chitral was at the extreme north west of British India...
, Boer War
Second Boer War
The Second Boer War was fought from 11 October 1899 until 31 May 1902 between the British Empire and the Afrikaans-speaking Dutch settlers of two independent Boer republics, the South African Republic and the Orange Free State...
and Great War. Afterwards he served in 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...
and 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...
.
Early life
James William Macarthur-Onslow was born on 7 November 1867 at Camden Park EstateCamden Park Estate, New South Wales
Camden Park was a large sheep station established by John Macarthur south of Sydney near present day Camden in New South Wales, Australia. Today, part of the original estate contains the Elizabeth Macarthur Agricultural Institute.- Origins :...
, near Menangle, New South Wales
Menangle, New South Wales
Menangle is a village in the Macarthur Region of New South Wales, Australia.-Location:Menangle is part of the Wollondilly Shire. At the 2006 census, Menangle had a population of 327 people.-History:...
, the son of Captain
Captain (Royal Navy)
Captain is a senior officer rank of the Royal Navy. It ranks above Commander and below Commodore and has a NATO ranking code of OF-5. The rank is equivalent to a Colonel in the British Army or Royal Marines and to a Group Captain in the Royal Air Force. The rank of Group Captain is based on the...
Arthur Alexander Walton Onslow and his wife Elizabeth née Macarthur, the granddaughter of wool pioneer John Macarthur
John Macarthur (wool pioneer)
John Macarthur was a British army officer, entrepreneur, politician, architect and pioneer of settlement in Australia. Macarthur is recognised as the pioneer of the wool industry that was to boom in Australia in the early 19th century and become a trademark of the nation...
. He was educated at Sydney Grammar School
Sydney Grammar School
Sydney Grammar School is an independent, non-denominational, selective, day school for boys, located in Darlinghurst, Edgecliff and St Ives, all suburbs of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia....
. His father died in 1882 and in 1887 his mother took her children to the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
to complete their education while she studied dairy farming
Dairy farming
Dairy farming is a class of agricultural, or an animal husbandry, enterprise, for long-term production of milk, usually from dairy cows but also from goats and sheep, which may be either processed on-site or transported to a dairy factory for processing and eventual retail sale.Most dairy farms...
. Macarthur-Onslow read law at Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. Trinity has more members than any other college in Cambridge or Oxford, with around 700 undergraduates, 430 graduates, and over 170 Fellows...
, receiving Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
(BA) and Bachelor of Laws
Bachelor of Laws
The Bachelor of Laws is an undergraduate, or bachelor, degree in law originating in England and offered in most common law countries as the primary law degree...
(LLB) degrees in 1890. He returned to Australia in 1891. He married Enid Emma Macarthur, the granddaughter of Hannibal Hawkins Macarthur in 1897. - James' great-grandfather and Enid's great-grandfather were brothers.
Military career
Macarthur-Onslow was commissioned captain of the CamdenCamden, New South Wales
-Education:Camden is the location of research facilities for the veterinary and agricultural schools of the University of Sydney. The local government area has two public high schools, Camden High School and Elderslie High School, as well as eight Catholic and three Anglican schools.-Culture:The...
Squadron of the New South Wales Mounted Rifles in 1892. In 1894 he was selected by commandant of the military forces in New South Wales, Colonel Edward Hutton, for training in India with the 11th Hussars
11th Hussars
The 11th Hussars was a cavalry regiment of the British Army.-History:The regiment was founded in 1715 as Colonel Philip Honeywood's Regiment of Dragoons and was known by the name of its Colonel until 1751 when it became the 11th Regiment of Dragoons...
, the Royal Artillery
Royal Artillery
The Royal Regiment of Artillery, commonly referred to as the Royal Artillery , is the artillery arm of the British Army. Despite its name, it comprises a number of regiments.-History:...
, and the 1st Battalion, King's Royal Rifle Corps
King's Royal Rifle Corps
The King's Royal Rifle Corps was a British Army infantry regiment, originally raised in colonial North America as the Royal Americans, and recruited from American colonists. Later ranked as the 60th Regiment of Foot, the regiment served for more than 200 years throughout the British Empire...
of the British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
. He served in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
from 1894 to 1895, seeing active service in the Chitral Expedition
Chitral Expedition
The Chitral Expedition was a military expedition in 1895 sent by the British authorities to relieve the fort at Chitral which was under siege after a local coup.-Background to the conflict:Chitral was at the extreme north west of British India...
.
In 1900 he made his own way to South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
in 1900 to participate in the Boer War
Second Boer War
The Second Boer War was fought from 11 October 1899 until 31 May 1902 between the British Empire and the Afrikaans-speaking Dutch settlers of two independent Boer republics, the South African Republic and the Orange Free State...
, where he served as aide-de-camp
Aide-de-camp
An aide-de-camp is a personal assistant, secretary, or adjutant to a person of high rank, usually a senior military officer or a head of state...
to Hutton, who was now a major general. He participated in operations in the Orange Free State
Orange Free State
The Orange Free State was an independent Boer republic in southern Africa during the second half of the 19th century, and later a British colony and a province of the Union of South Africa. It is the historical precursor to the present-day Free State province...
from February to May 1900, including the actions at Vet River and Zand River, and operations in the Transvaal
South African Republic
The South African Republic , often informally known as the Transvaal Republic, was an independent Boer-ruled country in Southern Africa during the second half of the 19th century. Not to be confused with the present-day Republic of South Africa, it occupied the area later known as the South African...
from May to November 1900. For this service, he was mentioned in despatches by Field Marshal Lord Roberts
Frederick Roberts, 1st Earl Roberts
Field Marshal Frederick Sleigh Roberts, 1st Earl Roberts, Bt, VC, KG, KP, GCB, OM, GCSI, GCIE, KStJ, PC was a distinguished Indian born British soldier who regarded himself as Anglo-Irish and one of the most successful British commanders of the 19th century.-Early life:Born at Cawnpore, India, on...
. He returned to Australia in March 1901, but was later appointed to command the 5th Battalion, Australian Commonwealth Horse
Australian Commonwealth Horse
The Australian Commonwealth Horse was a mounted infantry unit of the Australian Army formed for service during the Second Boer War in South Africa in 1902 and was the first expeditionary military unit established by the newly formed Commonwealth of Australia following Federation in 1901...
.
He served as aide-de-camp
Aide-de-camp
An aide-de-camp is a personal assistant, secretary, or adjutant to a person of high rank, usually a senior military officer or a head of state...
to the Governor-General of Australia
Governor-General of Australia
The Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia is the representative in Australia at federal/national level of the Australian monarch . He or she exercises the supreme executive power of the Commonwealth...
, the Earl of Hopetoun
John Hope, 1st Marquess of Linlithgow
John Adrian Louis Hope, 1st Marquess of Linlithgow KT, GCMG, GCVO, PC , also known as Viscount Aithrie before 1873 and as The 7th Earl of Hopetoun between 1873 and 1902, was a Scottish aristocrat, politician and colonial administrator. He is best known for his brief and controversial tenure as the...
in 1902. He commanded the 2nd Light Horse Regiment from July 1903 until December 1907 when he was promoted to colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
on assuming command of the 1st Light Horse Brigade. He was on the unattached list in January 1910. Although too old for active service during the Great War, Macarthur-Onslow held the rank of Colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
with the Sea Transport Service of the First Australian Imperial Force
First Australian Imperial Force
The First Australian Imperial Force was the main expeditionary force of the Australian Army during World War I. It was formed from 15 August 1914, following Britain's declaration of war on Germany. Generally known at the time as the AIF, it is today referred to as the 1st AIF to distinguish from...
, commanding troop ships travelling between Australia, the Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
and Britain between 1915 and 1917. He was aide-de-camp to the Governor-General a second time from 1917 to 1920. He retired with the rank of major general
Major General (Australia)
Major General is a senior rank of the Australian Army, and was created as a direct equivalent of the British military rank of Major General. It is the third-highest active rank of the Australian Army, and is considered to be equivalent to a two-star rank...
in 1924.
Political career
Macarthur-Onslow served the people of New South Wales as a member of the New South Wales Legislative AssemblyNew 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...
, representing the seats of Waverley
Electoral district of Waverley
Waverley was an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales, originally created in 1894, with the abolition of multi-member constituencies, out of part of Paddington, and named after and including the Sydney suburb of Waverley. In 1920, with the...
from 1907 to 1913, Bondi
Electoral district of Bondi
Bondi was an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales, originally created in 1913 and named after and including the Sydney suburb of Bondi. In 1920, with the introduction of proportional representation, it was absorbed into Eastern Suburbs...
from 1913 to 1920, and Eastern Suburbs from 1920 to 1922. He was nominated 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 1922, then a lifetime appointment, and served there until 1933, but was largely inactive.
Later life
Macarthur-Onslow served as a director of The Commercial Banking Company of Sydney Limited and The Colonial Sugar Refining Company LimitedCSR Limited
CSR Limited is a major Australian industrial company, producing aluminium and building products. It is publicly traded on the Australian Securities Exchange. In 2009, it has approximately 10,000 employees and during a period of a major cyclical downturn the company made an after-tax profit of...
. His other appointments included president of the Australian Club
Australian Club
The Australian Club is a private club founded in 1838 and located in Sydney at 165 Macquarie Street. Its membership is men-only and it's the oldest gentlemen's club in the southern hemisphere...
and director of the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital
Royal Prince Alfred Hospital
The Royal Prince Alfred Hospital is a major public teaching hospital in Sydney, Australia, located on Missenden Road in Camperdown...
1909 until 1929.
Macarthur-Onslow died at Camden Park and was survived by his wife, his son and his two daughters. His papers are in the Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales
State Library of New South Wales
The State Library of New South Wales is a large public library owned by the state of New South Wales, Australia. It is located in Macquarie Street, Sydney near Shakespeare Place...
.
Family
A small selection of other notable family members includes:Father
- CaptainCaptain (Royal Navy)Captain is a senior officer rank of the Royal Navy. It ranks above Commander and below Commodore and has a NATO ranking code of OF-5. The rank is equivalent to a Colonel in the British Army or Royal Marines and to a Group Captain in the Royal Air Force. The rank of Group Captain is based on the...
Arthur Alexander Walton Onslow (1833–1882) - father - Arthur Pooley Onslow - Arthur Alexander's father
- Rosa Roberta, née Macleay - Arthur Pooley Onslow's wife (married 1832) - Arthur Alexander's mother
- Their children, Arthur Alexander's siblings, included:
- Sir Alexander Campbell OnslowAlexander OnslowSir Alexander Campbell Onslow was the third Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Western Australia, which is the highest ranking court in the Australian State of Western Australia....
(1842–1908)
- Alexander MacleayAlexander MacleayHon. Alexander Macleay MLC FLS FRS was a leading member of the Linnean Society and a fellow of the Royal Society.Macleay was born on Ross-shire, Scotland, eldest son of William Macleay, provost of Wick...
(1767–1848) - Rosa Roberta's father - Arthur Alexander's grandfather. Fathered 17 children, including:- William Sharp MacleayWilliam Sharp MacLeayWilliam Sharp Macleay was a British civil servant and entomologist.-Early life:Macleay was born in London, eldest son of Alexander Macleay who named him for his then business partner, fellow wine merchant William Sharp. He attended Westminster School and Trinity College, Cambridge graduating with...
(1792–1865) He never married and the heir to his estate was his brother, George W. J. Macleay - Sir George MacleayGeorge MacleaySir George Macleay KCMG, was an Australian explorer and politician.Macleay was born in London, the third son of Alexander Macleay and educated at Westminster School. He came to Australia in 1826....
(1809–1891) - James Robert (1811–1892) secretary of the commission for the suppression of the slave trade in Cape Colony.
- Margaret (b.1802) married Archibald Clunes InnesArchibald Clunes InnesArchibald Clunes Innes was a soldier and pastoralist from Thrumster, Caithness, Scotland. When he arrived in Australia in 1822 he was a captain in the Third Regiment , on the ship “Eliza”, in charge of 170 convicts....
(1800–1857) in 1829 - Christiana Susan (b.1799) married Captain William Dumaresq (1793–1868) in 1830
- Barbara Isabella (b.1797) married Pieter Laurentz Campbell (1809–1948) in 1834.
- William Sharp Macleay
- Sir William John MacleayWilliam John MacleaySir William John Macleay . was an Australian politician, zoologist and naturalist.-Early life:Macleay was born at Wick, Caithness, Scotland, second son of Kenneth Macleay of Keiss and his wife Barbara, née Horne...
(1820–1891) - Alexander Macleay's nephew
Mother
- Elizabeth née Macarthur (1840–1911) - mother
- Arthur and Elizabeth had 8 children: 6 boys and 2 girls - see siblings below
- She inherited the estates of her childless uncles Sir Edward and Sir William, and that of her father James.
- She changed her name to Macarthur-Onslow in 1892.
- James Macarthur (1798–1867) - Elizabeth's father
- John MacarthurJohn Macarthur (wool pioneer)John Macarthur was a British army officer, entrepreneur, politician, architect and pioneer of settlement in Australia. Macarthur is recognised as the pioneer of the wool industry that was to boom in Australia in the early 19th century and become a trademark of the nation...
(1767–1834) - Elizabeth's grandfather - Elizabeth MacarthurElizabeth MacarthurElizabeth Macarthur was born in Devon, England, the daughter of provincial farmers, Richard and Grace Veale, of Cornish origin. Her father died when she was 7; her mother remarried when she was 11, leaving Elizabeth in the care of her grandfather John and friends. Elizabeth married Plymouth...
(1766–1850) - John's wife. Their other children included: - 1. Sir Edward MacarthurEdward MacarthurLieutenant-General Sir Edward Macarthur KCB was a lieutenant-general in the British Army, an administrator active in Australia and Commander-in-chief of Her Majesty's forces in Australia from 1855.-Early life:...
(1789–1872) Married Sarah 1862. Died childless. - 2.
- 3. John - lawyer - remained in England
- 4. James (1798–1867)
- 5. Sir William MacarthurWilliam MacarthurHon Sir William Macarthur was an Australian botanist and vigneron. He was one of the most active and influential horticulturists in Australia in the mid-to-late 19th century...
(1800–1882) Died unmarried.
Siblings (5 brothers, 2 sisters)
- James William Macarthur-Onslow (1867–1946)
- William died in WWI
- Girl - died young
- Rosa Sibella Macarthur Onslow (1871–1943) Unmarried.
- Brigadier General George Macleay Macarthur-OnslowGeorge MacArthur-OnslowBrigadier General George MacLeay Macarthur-Onslow CMG, DSO was an Australian Army Brigadier General who served in World War I.-Early life and career:...
(1875–1931) - brother- He had married at Manar, near Braidwood, Violet Marguerite Gordon on 16 October 1909. She and their daughter survived him.
- (Francis) Arthur Macarthur-Onslow (1879–1938) - brother (served in the South African War)
- He was survived by his wife Sylvia Seton Raymond, née Chisholm, whom he had married on 16 May 1903 at Goulburn, and by three sons and a daughter.
- Major General Sir Denzil Macarthur-Onslow - Arthur's eldest son
Wife
- Enid Emma Macarthur - wife
- John Macarthur was James Macarthur-Onslow's great-grandfather
- John's elder brother James was Enid's great-grandfather
- Hannibal Hawkins Macarthur - Enid's grandfather - John Macarthur's nephew
- Hannibal had 6 daughters and 5 sons
- 3. George Fairfowl Macarthur (1825–1890) 3 sons and 2 daughters
Children
- Helen Maud (d.1968) married Major General Sir Reginald Stanham and inherited Camden Park
- Brigadier Richard Quentin Macarthur-Stanham - after her death it passed to her son