William MacGregor facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
William MacGregor
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| 11th Governor of Queensland | |
| In office 2 December 1909 – 16 July 1914 |
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| Monarch | Edward VII George V |
| Preceded by | The Lord Chelmsford |
| Succeeded by | Sir Hamilton Goold-Adams |
| 60th Governor of Newfoundland | |
| In office 1904–1909 |
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| Monarch | Edward VII |
| Preceded by | Charles Cavendish Boyle |
| Succeeded by | Sir Ralph Champneys Williams |
| Governor of Lagos Colony | |
| In office 1899–1902 |
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| Monarch | Victoria Edward VII |
| Preceded by | Henry Edward McCallum |
| Succeeded by | Walter Egerton |
| Lieutenant-Governor of British New Guinea | |
| In office 1895–1897 |
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| Monarch | Victoria |
| Preceded by | Himself as Administrator of British New Guinea |
| Succeeded by | George Le Hunte |
| Administrator of British New Guinea | |
| In office 1888–1895 |
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| Monarch | Victoria |
| Preceded by | John Douglas |
| Succeeded by | Himself as Lieutenant-Governor of British New Guinea |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 20 October 1846 Towie, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, United Kingdom |
| Died | 3 July 1919 (aged 72) Berwickshire, Scotland, United Kingdom |
| Nationality | British |
| Spouse | Mary Jane Cocks (1883–1919; his death) |
| Alma mater | University of Aberdeen University of Edinburgh |
Sir William MacGregor (20 October 1846 – 3 July 1919) was an important British official. He served as a governor in several places around the world. These included British New Guinea, Lagos Colony (in modern-day Nigeria), Newfoundland (now part of Canada), and Queensland in Australia.
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Early Life and Education
William MacGregor was born in a small village called Hillockhead in Scotland. His family were farmers. Even though he worked on a farm, his teachers saw how smart he was. They encouraged him to continue his education.
He went to Aberdeen Grammar School and then the University of Aberdeen. He studied medicine and became a doctor in 1872. He also studied at other medical colleges, including the University of Edinburgh. After finishing his studies, he worked as a medical assistant.
Medical Career and Saving Lives
In 1873, Dr. MacGregor started working as a medical officer in the Seychelles. The next year, he moved to Mauritius to work at a hospital. There, he met Sir Arthur Gordon, a governor who was impressed by his skills.
When Sir Arthur Gordon moved to Fiji in 1875, he asked MacGregor to join him. MacGregor became the chief medical officer in Fiji. He faced a huge challenge when a terrible measles outbreak happened. This epidemic sadly caused the deaths of many local people.
MacGregor also took on other important roles in Fiji. He became a high-ranking government official. In 1884, a ship carrying workers, the Syria, crashed near Suva. Dr. MacGregor quickly organized a rescue mission. He personally saved several lives during this dangerous event. He received the Albert Medal for his bravery.
A Leader in Many Lands
Sir William MacGregor was known for being honest, smart, and brave. He could speak several languages, including Italian, French, and German. This skill helped him communicate with many different people.
British New Guinea (1888–1898)
Because of his experience working with local communities, MacGregor was chosen to lead British New Guinea. He started this role in 1888. New Guinea had many different tribes, and his main goal was to help them live peacefully.
He sometimes had to lead expeditions to keep order. However, he always tried to avoid fighting and bloodshed. Through his patience and hard work, he brought law and order to the area. He also stopped harmful practices like annual raids by some groups.
MacGregor explored much of the country, both along the coast and deep inland. He even wrote a guide for people who wanted to settle there. In 1896, he received a special medal from the Royal Geographical Society for his important work in geography. He was promoted to Lieutenant-Governor in 1895 and left New Guinea in 1898.
Lagos Colony (1899–1904)
From 1899 to 1904, MacGregor was the governor of Lagos Colony in Nigeria. He started a big project to fight malaria, a serious disease spread by mosquitoes. He had swamps drained and worked to destroy mosquito breeding grounds.
He also helped develop the country by building roads and a railway. His efforts to improve public health were recognized. He received the Mary Kingsley Medal in 1910 for his work in tropical medicine.
Newfoundland (1904–1909)
In 1904, MacGregor became the governor of Newfoundland Colony. His medical knowledge was very useful here too. He helped fight tuberculosis, a common disease at the time.
He also played a key role in solving a long-standing fishing dispute. He convinced the different groups to take their disagreement to an international court. This helped them find a peaceful solution.
During his time in Newfoundland, there was a political challenge. Two parties had an equal number of seats in the government. MacGregor handled this situation carefully. He made sure that the government could continue to function properly. His actions were praised by many experts.
Queensland (1909–1914)
On 2 December 1909, Sir William MacGregor was appointed Governor of Queensland in Australia.
He played a big part in starting the University of Queensland. He even allowed his official residence, Old Government House, to be the university's first home. He became the university's first leader, called a chancellor. He was very proud of the university's early progress. He also led the Royal Geographical Society of Queensland.
In 1913, Governor MacGregor opened a new building for the Institute of Tropical Medicine in Townsville. As a pioneer in tropical medicine himself, he understood the importance of this institute. He also helped start the Historical Society of Queensland and became its patron.
MacGregor retired from his role as governor in July 1914.
Later Life and Legacy
In 1883, Sir William MacGregor married Mary Jane Cocks. She was reportedly the first Caucasian girl born in Fiji. They had one son and three daughters. Lady MacGregor often joined him in his travels, even facing illness during his time in Lagos.
MacGregor received many honors for his service. These included being made a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George. He also received honorary degrees from several universities, including Cambridge and Edinburgh.
After retiring in 1914, MacGregor lived in Scotland. During World War I, he helped with war efforts and gave talks about his experiences.
Sir William MacGregor passed away on 3 July 1919, after an operation. He was buried in his hometown of Towie, Scotland.
He left his collections of cultural items and bird specimens to the University of Aberdeen. He also gave his special banner from St Paul's Cathedral to the University of Queensland. He had previously given other collections to museums in Australia.
Two suburbs in Australia are named after him: MacGregor, Brisbane and Macgregor, Canberra.
Images for kids
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Sir William MacGregor in ceremonial mantle as Governor of Queensland
