Thomas Brisbane

Thomas Brisbane

Major-General Sir Thomas Makdougall Brisbane, 1st Baronet GCH, GCB, FRS, FRSE (23 July 1773 – 27 January 1860) was Governor of New South Wales (1821–25), as recommended by the Duke of Wellington, with whom he had seen military service.

A keen astronomer, he built Australia's first observatory and encouraged scientific and agricultural training. But jealous rivals smeared his reputation, in league with the Colonial Secretary, Goulburn, and he had to defend his conduct, though an inquest cleared him. A new convict settlement was named after him, and became today's city of Brisbane.