Normand MacLaurin

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Sir Henry Normand MacLaurin, known as Normand MacLaurin (10 December 1835, Kilconquhar, Scotland – 24 August 1914, Sydney, Australia) was a Scottish-born Australian politician and university administrator.

MacLaurin was born in Kilconquhar, Fife, Scotland, the son of James MacLaurin, M.A. schoolmaster. At 15 years of age he won a bursary at the University of St Andrews and took the degree of M.A. at 19 years of age. MacLaurin qualified as M.D. in 1857 at the University of Edinburgh, he served on eight different ships in the Royal Navy.

In 1871 MacLaurin migrated to Australia, arriving in Melbourne on 4 February 1868, he then moved to New South Wales, firstly at Parramatta then to Sydney a year later. He registered with the Medical Board of New South Wales on 1 October 1868 and became good friends with Charles Mackellar.

MacLaurin became a member of the Legislative Council of New South Wales in 1889. In April 1893 he became vice-president of the executive council in the George Dibbs ministry. Soon after there was a financial crisis MacLaurin suggested to the premier that all bank notes should be made legal tender. This suggestion was adopted and helped very much to allay the panic.

In 1887, MacLaurin was vice-chancellor of the University of Sydney, becoming chancellor in 1896 for a number of years. His son, Brigadier General Henry Normand MacLaurin was killed at the Battle of Gallipoli in 1915.

[edit] References

• Serle, Percival (1949). "MacLaurin, Henry Normand". Dictionary of Australian Biography. Sydney: Angus and Robertson. 
• Ann M. Mitchell, 'MacLaurin, Sir Henry Normand (1835 - 1914)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, Volume 10, MUP, 1986, pp 327-329.