James Macarthur

James Macarthur (15 December 1798 – 21 April 1867) was an Australian pastoralist and politician. He was a member of the New South Wales Legislative Council on three occasions between 1839 and 1843, 1848 and 1856 and finally from 1866 until his death. He was also a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly between 1856 and 1859.

Early life and education James Macarthur was born in Parramatta on 15 December 1798, was the fourth son of John Macarthur

Business Macarthur was also a director of numerous colonial companies, including the failing Australian Agricultural Company. During two trips to England between 1827 and 1832 and in 1837–38, he improved the company's affairs and did much to promote the New South Wales. He was a financial backer of The Australian newspaper by mid-1843 and was, briefly, the owner. He significantly influenced the development of the town of Camden and St Johns Anglican Church, Camden.

Political career Colonial Parliament Macarthur was first appointed to the Legislative Council when it was a fully nominated house on 24 October 1839. At the first election for the council after the reforms of 1842, he unsuccessfully contested the seat of County of Cumberland. After the failure of this election campaign he refused a nomination to the house but re-entered it is as the member for County of Camden after winning that seat at the election of 1848. He retained this seat until responsible self-government was granted in 1856. However, his views were known to change according to the political milieu and his economic interests. After initially opposing the granting of representative self-government to the colony he gave it his approval when it appeared to be inevitable and any further resistance had the potential to diminish his influence in a popularly elected parliament. He also took full economic advantage of pastoral squatting despite being a firm advocate of government grants.

The constitution granted to the colony in 1856 was seen by Macarthur as a dangerous experiment in liberalism and, after unsuccessfully attempting to influence the new parliament, he became disillusioned and retired to England in 1859. Under the influence of his daughter, he returned to the colony in the year before his death. Despite being one of the leading men of the colony between 1820 and 1856, Macarthur considered his political career to be a failure because most of his conservative policies were overturned as a liberal form of democracy developed in Australia. His historical legacy is largely under-valued because of his preference to use his influence away from public view.

Death and legacy Macarthur died on the Camden Park Estate on 21 April 1867.