Myths and Mysteries of the - Australian History Mysteries

Activity page8CWilliam Lawson (1774–1850)William Lawson (1774-1850),explorer and pastoralist, was born on2 June 1774 at Finchley, Middlesex,England. Educated in London, Williamwas trained as a surveyor, but in June1799 he bought a commission in theNew South Wales Corps. He arrivedat Sydney in November 1800 and wassoon posted to the garrison at NorfolkIsland, where he married SarahLeadbeater. He returned to Sydneyin 1806.Like many of his fellow officersLawson quickly began to acquireagricultural interests. About 1807 hebought a small property, and in 1810received a grant of 202 hectares.In January 1812 he accepted acommission as lieutenant in the NewSouth Wales Veterans Company. Henow built a fine 40-room mansion inearly colonial style.In 1813 Gregory Blaxland invitedLawson to accompany him andWilliam Charles Wentworth on whatproved to be the first successfulattempt to find a route across theBlue Mountains. Lawson’s knowledgeof surveying made him a particularlyvaluable member of the expedition.His journal, with its accurate record oftimes and distances, enables the routeto be precisely retraced. Macquarierewarded each explorer with a grantof 405 hectares on the west of theranges. Lawson selected his on theCampbell River near Bathurst. In 1819he was appointed commandant of thenew settlement of Bathurst, occupyingthis post until 1824 when he retired.During his years at BathurstLawson undertook three journeys ofexploration to find a practicable passthrough the ranges to the LiverpoolPlains. In this he was unsuccessfulbut his journeys helped to open upthe rich pastoral district of Mudgee.He owned many extensive estates. Heimported merino rams and ewes fromEngland, as well as Shorthorn cattleand blood horses. His horses werefamous throughout the colony in thecoaching days.A generous supporter of thePresbyterian Church, Lawson tookan active part in the establishmentof both Scots Church, Sydney, in1824 and Scots Church, Parramatta,State Library of New South Walesin 1838. As a magistrate heentered freely into public life andon 10 October 1825 signed a letterapproving trial by jury. He enteredpolitics in 1843 as a member forCumberland in the first partly electiveLegislative Council; he attendedregularly until 1846, but took little partin its debates. On 16 June 1850 ‘OldIronbark’ Lawson died, leaving mostof his estates to his son William.EW Dunlop, Online Dictionary of Australian Biography, http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/lawson-william-23386 Complete the biographical table in activity page 8A for Lawson.26Myths and Mysteries of the Crossing of the Blue Mountains