John Macarthur (wool pioneer)

John Macarthur
Born1767
Died11 April 1834 (aged 66–67)
SpouseElizabeth Macarthur (m. 1788)
Children8, including Edward, William and James
Military career
Allegiance Great Britain
(1782–1800)
 United Kingdom
(1800–1805)
Branch British Army
(1754–1763)
 British Army
(1800–1805)
RankCaptain
UnitNew South Wales Corps
Battles / warsRum Rebellion

John Macarthur (1767 – 11 April 1834) was instrumental in agitating for, and organising, a rebellion against Governor William Bligh (now known as the Rum Rebellion) in January 1808. Macarthur had been a British Army officer, entrepreneur, landowner, a pioneer of the Australian Merino wool industry and a politician who was a highly influential figure in the establishment of the colony of New South Wales. Macarthur was the brilliant leader or Australia’s first organised crime enterprise, the 'Rum Corps'.