Alexander Grant McLean (1824 – 28 September 1862) was a

Surveyor General of New South Wales The Surveyor-General of New South Wales is the primary government authority responsible for land and mining surveying in New South Wales. The original duties for the Surveyor General was to measure and determine land grants for settlers in New So ...

, (then a colony, now a state of

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...

Early life

McLean was born in

Scotland Scotland (, ) is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Covering the northern third of the island of Great Britain, mainland Scotland has a border with England to the southeast and is otherwise surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean to the ...

, the second son of Captain John Leyburn Maclean, principal superintendent of convicts (1837–55), and his wife Jane Eliza, née Grant. He and arrived in

Sydney Sydney ( ) is the capital city of the state of New South Wales, and the most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Located on Australia's east coast, the metropolis surrounds Sydney Harbour and extends about towards the Blue Mountain ...

with his family in the ''Earl Durham'' on 31 August 1837.

Career in Australia

On 11 May 1842, McLean was appointed to a position on the department of the

, Thomas Mitchell. McLean was appointed chief draftsman in 1856. On 12 August 1859 McLean was made acting Surveyor General by the then minister for lands,

John Robertson John, Jon, or Jonathan Robertson may refer to: Politicians United Kingdom politicians * J. M. Robertson (John Mackinnon Robertson, 1856–1933), British journalist and Liberal MP for Tyneside 1906–1918 *John Robertson (Bothwell MP) (1867–1926) ...

(later

Premier of New South Wales The premier of New South Wales is the head of government in the state of New South Wales, Australia. The Government of New South Wales follows the Westminster Parliamentary System, with a Parliament of New South Wales acting as the legislature. ...

). McLean authorised the compilation of a map of New South Wales (published 1861); his work facilitated the introduction of the

Robertson Land Acts The Crown Lands Acts 1861 (NSW) (or Robertson Land Acts) were introduced by the New South Wales Premier, John Robertson, in 1861 to reform land holdings in New South Wales and in particular to break the Squattocracy's domination of land tenure. ...

. McLean was appointed Surveyor General on 1 November 1861. McLean was a Captain in the Sydney Battalion of Volunteer Rifles.

Later life

McLean suffered from

Bright's disease Bright's disease is a historical classification of kidney diseases that are described in modern medicine as acute or chronic nephritis. It was characterized by swelling and the presence of albumin in the urine, and was frequently accompanied b ...

, taking medical leave in August 1862. However, his condition worsened and he died on 28 September 1862 in

Mulgoa, New South Wales Mulgoa is a village, located in the Local government in Australia, local government area of the City of Penrith, in the region of Greater Western Sydney, western Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Mulgoa is located approximately ...

, Australia. He was buried in the Mulgoa cemetery with Anglican church rites on 30 September 1862. About 70 to 80 members of the Sydney Battalion of Volunteer Rifles marched in procession at his funeral.

Legacy

There is a plaque commemorating him his role in the Sydney Battalion Volunteer Rifles at St James Anglican Church in

. The district of Maclean in

Queensland ) , nickname = Sunshine State , image_map = Queensland in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of Queensland in Australia , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = Australia , established_title = Before federation , established_ ...

was named after him; today this is two localities,

North Maclean North Maclean is a locality in the City of Logan, Queensland, Australia. In the , North Maclean had a population of 1,536 people. Geography North Maclean is on the Mount Lindesay Highway with the Logan River as part of its eastern and southern b ...

and

South Maclean South Maclean is a rural locality in the City of Logan, Queensland, Australia. In the South Maclean had a population of 1,362 people. Geography North Maclean is on the Mount Lindesay Highway with the Logan River as part of its northern and sout ...

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:McLean, Alexander Grant 1824 births 1862 deaths Surveyors General of New South Wales Australian surveyors Scottish surveyors Scottish emigrants to colonial Australia