Henry Normand MacLaurin MD MA (1835 - 1914)

Born 10 Dec 1835 in Kilconquhar, Fife, Scotland

Husband of Eliza Ann (Nathan) MacLaurin — married 1871 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Descendants

Died 24 Aug 1914 at age 78 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

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Biography

Normand MacLaurin MD MA is Notable.

The Honourable Doctor Sir Normand MacLaurin MD MA was a Scottish-born physician, company director, Australian politician and university administrator.

Formative years

Born Henry Normand MacLaurin on 10th December 1835 in Kilconquhar, Fife, Scotland, he was the younger son of James MacLaurin, schoolmaster, and Catherine Brearcliffe. Normand, as he was known, was educated at home, winning a bursary at fifteen years of age at the University of St Andrews, where he attained a Master of Arts (MA), graduating in 1854 at nineteen years of age. Sadly, both parents died before this achievement. With help from his only brother, Reverend James MacLaurin, and some fees he earned for tutoring, he enrolled in medicine at the University of Edinburgh. He qualified as Doctor of Medicine (MD) in 1857. When James contracted tuberculosis that year the two brothers travelled to Malaga, Spain hoping that the warmer weather would help; but James died on 3rd January 1858.

Royal Navy

After Normand wound up his brother's affairs, he was commissioned as an assistant surgeon in the Royal Navy, on 3rd August. He subsequently served on eight different ships in the Royal Navy.

Marriage and family

Normand MacLaurin MD MA migrated from Scotland to New South Wales.

Having visited Australian shores on one of his voyages, he resigned his commission and returned to Sydney where he married Eliza Ann Nathan in St James' Church of England (now Anglican Church), Sydney, on 6th October 1871, aged 35 years. ^[1] Eliza was the daughter of Dr Charles Nathan, and the grandaughter of musician, Isaac Nathan. Normand and Eliza had five sons (see below) and one daughter, Harriet who, sadly, died in infancy.

Medical practice

Normand initially established a medical practice at Parramatta, New South Wales. Following his father-in-law's death in September 1872, he moved the practice to Macquarie Street, Sydney. He was appointed examining medical officer to the Police Department in 1873, and also to the new post of ophthalmic surgeon to out-patients at St Vincent's Hospital. At the Sydney Infirmary and Dispensary he was honorary physician from February 1873, surgeon from 1874 and again a physician in 1882; he retired from the active staff in January 1884, but remained in private practice until about 1905. From 1882 Normand was a member of the Board of Health and succeeded (Sir) Charles Mackellar as chairman in 1885-89; for the same period he was government medical adviser and chairman of the Immigration Board.

Best known for his association with the University of Sydney, Normand was an examiner in medicine from 1876 and in January 1882 was offered the first chair of anatomy and physiology. In 1887 he was appointed vice-chancellor of the University of Sydney, becoming chancellor in 1896. As chancellor he was ex officio a director of the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, and a trustee of the Sydney Grammar School and of the Public Library of New South Wales.

Company director

From August 1886, Normand was a justice of the peace. He was a director of the Colonial Sugar Refining Co. Ltd from 1896 to 1914. He was chairman of the Mutual Life Association of Australasia, and after its amalgamation with the Citizens' Life Assurance Co. became chairman of the Mutual Life & Citizens' Assurance Co. Ltd, 1908-14. He was also a director of the Commercial Union Assurance Co. Ltd, Gloucester Estate Ltd (founded 1903), and the Bank of New South Wales (1900-14) of which he was president in 1904-05 and 1912-13.

Parliament

Normand was appointed to the Legislative Council of New South Wales in 1889.

Duly honoured

Normand MacLaurin was created knight bachelor on 15th August 1902, ^[2] with Eliza becoming entitled as Lady MacLaurin.

Death and burial

Lady MacLaurin died on 7th January 1908. Sir Normand's health failed in 1913. He rallied after surgery in July 1914 but died on 24th August in Sydney and was buried in Waverley Cemetery with Presbyterian forms. ^[3] He was survived by his five sons, who each made their 'mark' on society:

• Charles Nathan (1873-1925) was a medical practitioner who served with the Australian Army Medical Corps in the First World War and also wrote a number of notable publications. Charles died in 1925.
• James Brearcliffe (1874-1934)
• Donald (1877-1915) moved to Scotland, where he died in 1915. He had three sons and a daughter, British actress Constance Lorne.
• Henry Normand (1878-1915) was a barrister who, whilst commanding the 1st Australian Infantry Brigade, was killed at Gallipoli. He was posthumously promoted to Brigadier General, the usual rank of a brigade commander.
• Hugh Anthony Hoskins (1882-1952) was a veterinary surgeon who served with the 1st Australian Veterinary Hospital in the First World War. Hugh lived to 1952.

Sources

1. ↑ New South Wales Marriage Index #973/1871
2. ↑ London Gazette 15 August 1902 Issue: 27465 Page: 5327; accessed 8 Mar 2019
3. ↑ New South Wales Death Index #9701/1914

See also

• Mitchell, Ann M. MacLaurin, Sir Henry Normand (1835–1914). Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, published first in hardcopy 1986, accessed online 9 Jun 2018.
• Wikipedia:_Sir_Henry_Normand_MacLaurin; accessed 9 Jun 2018.