James Ainslie

James Ainslie (1787–1844) was a Scottish soldier and shepherd, best known as the first overseer of the property known as Duntroon in the Australian Capital Territory. During his time on the Limestone Plains he is said to have had a relationship with an Aboriginal woman. After 10 years at Duntroon, Ainslie returned to Scotland and after numerous offences committed suicide in jail in 1844.

The suburb Ainslie, originally a part of Duntroon, is named after James Ainslie, as is Mount Ainslie.

Early life James Ainslie was born in Roxburghshire Scotland (at the Scottish Borders) in 1787. He claimed he was a soldier in the British Army and fought in the Napoleonic Wars as a member of the Royal Scots Greys cavalry unit. He received a sabre wound to the head during the Battle of Waterloo. This however was unlikely as he later claimed, on return to Scotland, the head wounds were from his time in Australia.

Ainslie married Betty Catteral in Rufford, Lancashire in 1818. The couple had a son in 1820, also named James Ainslie. Before their child's first birthday, Betty died age 25.

Time in Australia A view of Mount Ainslie from Parliament House. Mount Ainslie is a prominent landmark in the Australian Capital Territory named after James Ainslie. Leaving his son behind, James Ainslie traveled to New South Wales, Australia in the ship Admiral Cockburn, arriving in February 1825. Ainslie was guided to the south-east by that woman and established Campbell's property, later named Duntroon in the area of present-day Canberra.

In 1827 the unknown woman and James Ainslie had a daughter, called Ju Nin Mingo - or Nanny.

Ainslie ran Campbell's sheep station for around a decade, turning his flock of 700 sheep from Bathurst into a flock of 20,000 (after sales).

For his services in capturing the bushrangers, Governor Ralph Darling awarded Ainslie 100 acres of land in 1831. Ainslie later gave away this land grant to the son of Bargo innkeeper.

In January 1835, Robert Campbell announced there had been "irregularities and insubordination...occasioned by a [liquor] Store on a neighbouring Farm" In 1841, court documents were prepared stating that Ainslie "came home to see his son with the intention of returning to the Colony... but he has not yet found it convenient to return".

On 11 April 1844, Ainslie committed suicide in Jedburgh Castle Jail aged 60. He hanged himself while awaiting trial for a charge of assault.