Peter McLean (politician)

Peter McLean (September 1837 – 10 December 1924) was a politician in colonial Queensland, Secretary for Public Lands and Mines 1878 to 1879.^[1]

McLean was born in Glasgow, Scotland, and educated at the Normal School.^[2] In 1854 he arrived in Victoria (Australia), and worked on the goldfields until 1862, when he returned to the old country and engaged in agricultural pursuits.^[2] His health failing, he went to Queensland in 1865, where he commenced dairying operations.^[2]

McLean was returned to the Queensland Legislative Assembly on 9 May 1876 for the Electoral district of Logan,^[1] and was appointed Secretary for Public Lands and Mines in the Douglas Ministry on 7 December 1878, just six weeks before their defeat. McLean was a prominent advocate of total abstinence in parliament. He was returned three times for Logan, but was defeated in 1883. He thereafter became Inspecting Commissioner of Crown Lands in November 1883, a post which he held until his nomination as Under-Secretary of the newly created Department of Agriculture in July 1887. In March 1889 he received the additional appointment of Curator of Botanic Gardens, Parks, and Preserves.^[2]

McLean died in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia on 10 December 1924^[1] and was buried in South Brisbane Cemetery.^[3]

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