Elizabeth & John

Elizabeth & John: the Macarthurs of Elizabeth Farm by Alan Atkinson is a scholarly study of the life and legacy of John Macarthur and his wife, Elizabeth, who arrived in Australia in 1790 and made their home in New South Wales. The Macarthurs are well known for their contribution to the establishment of the sheep industry in Australia plus John's active involvement / interference in colonial politics and business enterprises.

John arrived in the colony as an officer in the army regiment that was stationed in New South Wales. He quickly became involved in promoting the rights of free settlers in the convict colony and was often at odds with the men sent to New South Wales to govern the colony. He was also concerned about, in his opinion, the rights of former convicts (emancipists) to own land and hold administrative positions in the colony.

Alan Atkinson provides a generally readable account of the lives of the Macarthur family in Australia though, unlike other recent publications, he tends to favour John's role over the role played by Elizabeth, particularly when John was in prolonged exile in England on two occasions. The book, however does provide interesting background information about political and ethical thought at the time and how it may have influenced the thinking of John Macarthur. Having convicts in my family who lived in the colony at this time I found that the book provided useful information about life in the colony.

John Macarthur was definitely a complex character with many ideas for improving life in the colony, particularly for free settlers. Unfortunately he could not, or would not, concede that others may also have ideas that should be considered. Consequently he was often in conflict with other men when things did not go the way he wanted. Elizabeth was an intelligent lady who learned how to humour her husband and also promote her own ideas that might benefit the new community being established. When John was away in England, Elizabeth ran the family businesses efficiently and effectively and tried out some new ideas. Towards the end of his life it was recognised that John was insane and his last few years were extremely difficult for his family, and probably for him.

At the end of the book there is a detailed bibliography, footnotes and an index. There are also coloured images of the Macarhur family in the middle of the book.

I have recently read a number of books, fiction and non-fiction, concentrating on the life of Elizabeth Macarthur:

A room made of leaves by Kate Grenville (a novel)

Elizabeth Macarthur's letters edited by Kate Grenville

Elizabeth & Elizabeth by Sue Williams (a novel)