David Buchanan

David Buchanan (1823 – 4 April 1890) was a barrister and politician in colonial New South Wales, a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly and later, the New South Wales Legislative Council.

Buchanan was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, the fifth son of William Buchanan, a barrister, and his wife, Catherine ( Gregory). and was elected to the New South Wales Legislative Assembly as member for Morpeth on 14 December 1860. In 1862, he unsuccessfully sued the Sydney Morning Herald for libel and was required to pay their legal costs. He was drunk in August 1862 and was involved in an altercation with Samuel Terry, the New South Wales Legislative Assembly member for Mudgee. In the assembly Buchanan described Terry as a coward, eventually withdrawing the remark. Buchanan continued to interrupt and held to be in contempt of parliament. He refused to leave the chamber, was arrested by the Sergeant-at-arms and forcibly removed. He was unable to pay the legal costs of his failed libel suit and declared himself bankrupt and resigned from parliament.

He was returned to the Legislative Assembly as a representative of East Macquarie at a by-election in October 1864, serving until 1 August 1867. a seat he held until 7 October 1885. Buchanan represented Central Cumberland from 15 May 1888 to 19 January 1889.

As a politician Buchanan gained prominence by his sturdy championship of fiscal protection. He revisited England in 1886, and published a selection from his orations and speeches. Having unsuccessfully contested Balmain at the general election in January 1889, he was nominated to the Legislative Council on 27 February 1889, a position he held until his death.