Elizabeth Macarthur

Elizabeth Macarthur
Elizabeth Macarthur: oil painting by an unknown artist; from the collection of the State Library of New South Wales
Born	14 August 1766 Bridgerule, Devon, England
Died	9 February 1850(1850-02-09) (aged 83)
Nationality	British
Occupation	pastoralist and merchant
Spouse(s)	John Macarthur

Elizabeth Macarthur (14 August 1766 – 9 February 1850) was an Anglo-Australian pastoralist and merchant, and wife of John Macarthur.

Elizabeth Macarthur was born in Bridgerule, Devon, England, the daughter of provincial farmers, Richard and Grace Veale of Cornish origin. Her father died when she was 4 Her mother remarried when she was 11, leaving Elizabeth in the care of her grandfather John and friends.

Elizabeth married Plymouth soldier John Macarthur in 1788. In 1790, with her newborn son Edward, she accompanied John and his regiment, the New South Wales Corps, to the recently established colony of New South Wales, traveling on the Second Fleet.

Elizabeth was the first soldier's wife to arrive in New South Wales. Being educated, articulate and well read, her letters provide an important record of the infant convict town of Sydney and colonial life. She enjoyed a privileged position in society and "held court amongst officers of the New South Wales Corps, naval officers and members of the colonial administration".

John was made Commandant at Parramatta and received land grants near there, at Rosehill, naming his property Elizabeth Farm after his wife. John became paymaster to the New South Wales Corps and director of public works. Elizabeth's respectability and charm was in contrast to her husbands disputatious nature and meant that she and her children retained a good social standing despite John's many controversial actions in the following years. However, Governor Phillip was the only governor she associated with, as her husband's business activities and actions later were "too controversial for any governor to seek the company of the Macarthur family".

Elizabeth's work centred on her family, the education of her children and the management of a modest household. Elizabeth died in 1850, having first been estranged from her husband as his melancholia and paranoia deepened, and then surviving him by 16 years. She was an Anglican which means of, relating to, or denoting the Church of England or any Church in communion with it.