William Lawson (explorer)
William Lawson | |
|---|---|
Portrait of William Lawson, c. 1846 | |
| Member of Legislative Council of New South Wales | |
| In office 11 July 1843 – 20 June 1848 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 2 June 1774 |
| Died | 16 June 1850 (aged 76) |
| Resting place | St Barts, Prospect |
| Citizenship | British Empire |
| Relatives | Nelson Lawson (son) Street family |
| Known for | 1813 crossing of the Blue Mountains |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | British Army |
| Branch/service | New South Wales Corps |
| Rank | Commandant |
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William Lawson, MLC (2 June 1774 – 16 June 1850) was a British soldier, explorer, land owner, grazier and politician. In 1800, he migrated to Sydney, New South Wales, and from 1819, he served as the commandant of the Bathurst, New South Wales region, and from 1843, he served as a member of the New South Wales Parliament.
In 1813, he pioneered the first successful crossing of the Blue Mountains by British colonists, along with Gregory Blaxland and William Wentworth, and they discovered inland pastures that fuelled the colony's economic growth thereafter.