Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1879-1894 (Creation)
Level of description
Item
Extent and medium
loose papers in folder
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
Alexander McGregor (1821-1896), shipowner and merchant, and John Gibson McGregor (1830-1902) arrived in Tasmania from Scotland with their parents, James and Janet McGregor. The brothers served apprenticeships under a shipwright, John Watson, and then started building boats. Alexander acquired the Domain Shipyard in 1855 with his brother John as foreman, but sold out to his brother in 1869.
Alexander McGregor started the firm of McGregor, Piesse & Co., general merchants of Elizabeth Street, Hobart, with Charles A. Piesse. They bought ships for exporting whale oil, blue gum, timber and wool, known as the "Red Iron" fleet, and they had a warehouse in Salamanca Place. The partnership was dissolved in 1886, possibly because the firm was getting into debt through McGregor's speculating in land and mine ventures. In his last years Alexander McGregor speculated unwisely in various property and mine share deals and was involved in a number of legal actions. Alexander McGregor was a member of the Legislative Council 1880 - 1896.
In 1847 McGregor married Harriet Bayley (1829-1878), who gave her name to two of his ships, the "Hally Bayley" and the "Harriet McGregor", Harriet McGregor died in 1878 and Alexander married Margaret Pigdon about 1884. He had a house, Lenna, in Battery Point and other property. After his death his second wife Margaret (nee Pigdon) married agent Thomas Bennison.
For more information see http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/mcgregor-alexander-4095
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Deposited in the 1950s
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Execution of the estate of Captain Edward Lucas (1879-1894), senior captain of the T.S.N.Co. who died on 14 July 1879, aged 54, Alex McGregor and P.J. Salier executors and trustees, widow Matilda and daughter Matilda Elizabeth Salier legatees: accounts and correspondence
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
System of arrangement
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
Conditions governing reproduction
This material is made available for personal research and study purposes under the University of Tasmania Standard Copyright Licence. For any further use permission should be obtained from the copyright owners. For assistance please contact Special.Collections@utas.edu.au
When reusing this material, please cite the reference number and provide the following acknowledgement:
“Courtesy of the UTAS Library Special & Rare Collections”
Language of material
Script of material
Language and script notes
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
Finding aids
Original inventory and descriptive notes can be found at https://eprints.utas.edu.au/10994/2/Mcgregor.pdf
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Related units of description
Publication note
Photograph of - Captain Edward Lucas held TAHO https://stors.tas.gov.au/AI/NS6192-1-4
Publication note
Photograph - Maritime Museum of Tasmania - https://eheritage.libraries.tas.gov.au/resources/detail1dc3.html?ID=MMT_P_GSL256
Alternative identifier(s)
Access points
Subject access points
Place access points
Name access points
Genre access points
Description identifier
Institution identifier
Rules and/or conventions used
Status
Level of detail
Dates of creation revision deletion
HE May 2018