Biographical entry McNaughtan, Alexander (1815 - 1884)

Summary

Alexander McNaughtan was merchant, turned business executive who helped found the Gaslight Co., arranged the survey of water reticulation in Hobart, organized extensive searches for coal and promoted steamship services on the Derwent River and the east coast. His company McNaughtan & Co. lay a submarine telegraph cable across Bass Strait. He prepared a report for the Royal Society, Van Diemen's Land on combustible mineral substance from the Mersey River.

Details

Events

c. 1841 - 1842

Career position - Joined Kerr, Alexander & Co. in Scotland? And sent to their Launceston Branch

1842 - 1856

Career position - Partner and Hobart branch manager of Kerr, Bogle & Co.

c. 1857 - c. 1859

Career position - Justice of the peace, director of the Union Bank, trustee of St Mary's Hospital and chairman of the Chamber of Commerce

1859

Career position - McNaughtan & Co. contracted to lay a submarine telegraph cable across Bass Strait

1863

Career position - Advisor to the select committee on the Deloraine railway

1863

Career position - Co-founder of Launceston Gas Co.

Published resources

Book Sections

• 'McNaughtan, Alexander (1815-1884)', in Australian Dictionary of Biography, vol. 5, 1974, p. 193. Also available at http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A050219b.htm. Details

Journal Articles

• McNaughtan, A., 'Report on the chemical qualities and analysis of a combustible mineral substance from the Mersey River, Tasmania, forwarded by Mr. A. McNaughtan of Hobart Town', Report of the Royal Society, Van Diemen's Land for the year 1854, vol. 3, 1855, pp. 108-114. Details

Online Resources

• National Library of Australia, 'McNaughtan, Alexander', Trove, National Library of Australia and the Australian National Maritime Museum Darling Harbour, 2009, http://nla.gov.au/nla.party-1469501. Details