Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Donaldson, Stuart Alexander
DONALDSON, Sir STUART ALEXANDER (1812–1867), Australian statesman, third son of Stuart and Betty Donaldson, was born on 10 Dec. 1812. John William Donaldson, D.D. [q. v.], was his brother. He was educated privately, and in 1832 was sent by his father to the Mexican silver mines to acquire some business training. While in Mexico he was present at the battle of Guanaxuato. Having returned to England in 1834, he went to Australia in the same year, joined his father's partner, Mr. William Jones, at Sydney, and soon afterwards was made a partner in the firm of Donaldson, Jones, & Lambert. In 1838 Donaldson was appointed a magistrate of New South Wales. He realised a rapid fortune in wool and sperm oil, and became the owner of a large sheep-run. He became keenly engaged in colonial politics, and on one occasion fought a duel with Mr. Mitchell, a political opponent. In 1848 he was appointed a member of the council of New South Wales, and sat in the council and assembly until 1859. After a visit to England, when he married Amelia, daughter of Frederick Cooper of Carleton Hall, Cumberland, he went back to Australia in July 1854, and became vice-president of the Council. Returned to the legislative assembly in 1856 for Sydney Hamlets, Donaldson was called to form, in accordance with the New Constitution Act of New South Wales, the first ministry responsible to the colonial parliament. The ministry was formed towards the end of April, Donaldson taking the offices of first minister and colonial secretary. Simultaneously with his taking office, he retired from his business firm, wishing to have his hands entirely untied. His re-election on taking office was keenly contested, but Donaldson was returned by his former constituency. In the assembly a vigorous opposition was soon organised, under the leadership of Mr. (afterwards Sir Charles) Cowper, professedly on liberal lines, and, after a brief existence, the Donaldson ministry came to an end on 21 Aug., ‘in consequence of the support accorded to them in the legislative assembly being feeble and uncertain’ (speech of Donaldson on 26 Aug. in the ‘Sydney Morning Herald’ of the 27th). On 3 Oct. of the same year he joined the Watson-Parker ministry as finance minister, and retired from office with his colleagues in the following year. In 1857 he was appointed commissioner of railways, and two years later he returned home and settled in London. He was knighted on 23 Aug. 1860. During the remainder of his life Donaldson was actively employed as director of the General Credit and other companies, and attempted to enter parliament for Dartmouth, Barnstaple, but without success. He died on 11 Jan. 1867, at Carleton Hall, Cumberland.
[Information from his nephew, Mr. W. Donaldson Rawlins; Sydney Morning Herald for 1856.]Dictionary of National Biography, Errata (1904), p.101
N.B.— f.e. stands for from end and l.l. for last line
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| 214 | i | 33 | Donaldson, Sir Stuart A.: after success. insert He was a liberal and vainly contested Harwich in 1860. |