968i Obituary Notice. 



'Obituary Notice of William Sharp MacLeay, F.L.S. 



Mr. MacLeay was born in London on the 2lst of July, 1792. He 

 was the eldest son of the late Alexander MacLeay, Esq., F.R.S., F.L.S. , 

 so long known and respected as the Colonial Secretary of this Colony, 

 and also well-lvnown in the scientific world as the Honorary Secretary 

 to the Linnean Society. Mr. MacLeay was educated at Westminster, 

 and passed with credit throngh the full course of study in that cele- 

 brated school. He subsequently graduated in honours at Trinity 

 College, Cambridge. Shortly afterwards he received the appointment 

 of Secretary to the Board of British Claims on the French Government, 

 established at the peace of 1815. In the performance of this duty he 

 spent several years at Paris, where he became the friend of Cuvier and 

 other celebrated men of science in France. Having successfully per- 

 formed the duties entrusted to him in the capacity referred to, he 

 was, on their completion, and on his return to England, promoted, in 

 1825, to the higher and more responsible office of H.B.M. Commis- 

 sioner and Judge in the mixed tribunal of Justice at the Havannah. 

 He remained in that sickly climate for ten years, and there is strong 

 reason to believe that, although he had accomplished the usual period 

 allotted to man, his life might have been spared for several years more, 

 but for the deteriorating effects of so long a residence in the tropics. 

 On relinquishing the office of Commissioner and Judge at the Havan- 

 nah, he retired from the public service on a pension of £900 a year. 

 In 1839 he arrived in this colony, where he has resided ever since. 

 Since his arrival he held the appointment of Trustee of the Australian 

 Museum, until the state of his health compelled him reluctantly to 

 retire. It was under his advice, and with his able co-operation, that 

 the Act for establishing and endowing the Australian Mu.seum was 

 introduced and subsequently passed into law. Mr. MacLeay also 

 acted for several years as a member of the National Board of Educa- 

 tion, and for a short period as a member of the Executive Council, 

 during Sir William Denison's administration, and before the inaugur- 

 ation of responsible government. Mr. MacLeay's health began to decline 

 about three years ago, when he was attacked with that insidious and 

 wasting disease, diabetes. Late in the afternoon of Thursday last he 

 became unconscious, and in the evening about seven o'clock his spirit 

 passed away without a struggle. He was buried on Saturday in the 

 family vault at Caraperdown. — Sydney Paper, dated January 30, 

 1865. 



