Thomas Brisbane
Sir Thomas Brisbane | |
|---|---|
Portrait by F. Schenck, 1850 | |
| 6th Governor of New South Wales | |
| In office 1 December 1821 – 1 December 1825 | |
| Monarch | George IV |
| Preceded by | Lachlan Macquarie |
| Succeeded by | Ralph Darling |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 23 July 1773 |
| Died | 27 January 1860 (aged 86) Largs, Ayrshire, Scotland |
| Alma mater | University of Edinburgh |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Branch/service | British Army |
| Rank | Major-General |
| Battles/wars | War of the First Coalition Second Carib War Peninsular War War of 1812 Bathurst War |
| Awards | Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Guelphic Order Army Gold Cross |
Major-General Sir Thomas Makdougall Brisbane, 1st Baronet (23 July 1773 – 27 January 1860) was a British Army officer, colonial administrator and astronomer. He served in many important wars of the late 18th and early 19th centuries, including front-line action during the Peninsular War. Upon the recommendation of the Duke of Wellington, with whom Brisbane had served, he was appointed as Governor of New South Wales from 1821 to 1825.
In the colony, he implemented expansionist land policies that benefited wealthy colonists, while also augmenting the system of convict punishment. A keen astronomer, he built the colony's second observatory and encouraged scientific and agricultural training. Brisbane also declared martial law against the Indigenous Wiradjuri people to quash their resistance to colonisation. The convict settlement of Brisbane established during his tenure was named in his honour and is now the third largest city in Australia.