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{{Short description|Australian Army officer and politician (1867–1946)}}
{{Use Australian English|date=August 2021}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2021}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific_prefix = [[Major general (Australia)|Major General]]
| name = James Macarthur-Onslow
| honorific_suffix = {{postnominals|country=AUS|size=100%|VD}}
| image = James MacArthur Onslow.gif
| alt =
| caption = James MacArthur-Onslow {{circa}} 1930
| office = Member of the [[New South Wales Legislative Council]]
| term_start = 4 July 1922
| term_end = 22 April 1934
| constituency_AM2 = [[Electoral district of Eastern Suburbs (New South Wales)|Eastern Suburbs]]
| assembly2 = New South Wales Legislative
| term_start2 = 20 March 1920
| term_end2 = 17 February 1922
| predecessor2 = ''New seat''
| successor2 = [[Hyman Goldstein (politician)|Hyman Goldstein]]
| constituency_AM3 = [[Electoral district of Bondi|Bondi]]
| assembly3 = New South Wales Legislative
| term_start3 = 6 December 1913
| term_end3 = 18 February 1920
| predecessor3 = ''New seat''
| successor3 = ''Seat abolished''
| constituency_AM4 = [[Electoral district of Waverley|Waverley]]
| assembly4 = New South Wales Legislative
| term_start4 = 10 September 1907
| term_end4 = 6 November 1913
| predecessor4 = [[Thomas Jessep]]
| successor4 = [[James Fingleton]]
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1867|11|07|df=yes}}
| birth_place = [[Camden Park Estate, New South Wales]]
| death_date = {{Death date and age|1946|11|17|1867|11|07|df=yes}}
| death_place = Camden Park Estate, New South Wales
| party = [[Liberal Reform Party (Australia)|Liberal Reform Party]] (1910–17) [[Nationalist Party (Australia)|Nationalist Party]] (1917–20) [[Progressive Party (1920)|Progressive Party]] (1920–31) [[United Australia Party]] (1931–34)
| spouse = {{marriage|Enid Emma Macarthur|15 December 1897}}
| relations =
| mother =
| father = [[Arthur Onslow (Australian politician)|Arthur Onslow]]
| alma_mater = [[Trinity College, Cambridge]]

| nickname =
| allegiance = [[Colony of New South Wales]] Australia
| branch = [[Colonial forces of Australia#New South Wales|New South Wales Military Forces]] (1892–01) [[Australian Army Reserve|Citizens Military Force]] (1901–25)
| service_years = 1892–1925
| rank = [[Major general (Australia)|Major General]]
| unit =
| commands = 1st Light Horse Brigade (1907–10) 2nd Light Horse Regiment (1903–07) 5th Battalion, [[Australian Commonwealth Horse]] (1902)
| battles = [[Chitral Expedition]] [[Second Boer War]] [[First World War]]
| mawards = [[Colonial Auxiliary Forces Officers' Decoration]] [[Mentioned in Despatches]]
}}
[[Major general (Australia)|Major General]] '''James William Macarthur-Onslow''', {{postnominals|country=AUS|size=100%|VD}} (7 November 1867 – 17 November 1946) was a soldier, grazier and politician. The son of a prominent [[New South Wales]] family, he was commissioned in the [[New South Wales Mounted Rifles]] in 1892 and served in the [[Chitral Expedition]], [[Second Boer War]] and the [[First World War]]. Afterwards, he served in the [[New South Wales Legislative Assembly]] and [[New South Wales Legislative Council]].

==Early life==
James William Macarthur-Onslow was born on 7 November 1867 at [[Camden Park Estate, New South Wales|Camden Park Estate]], near [[Menangle, New South Wales]], the son of [[Captain (Royal Navy)|Captain]] [[Arthur Alexander Walton Onslow]] and his wife Elizabeth née Macarthur, the granddaughter of wool pioneer [[John Macarthur (wool pioneer)|John Macarthur]]. He was educated at [[Sydney Grammar School]]. After his father died in 1882 his mother Elizabeth changed her name to Macarthur-Onslow,
and in 1887 she took her children to the [[United Kingdom]] to complete their education while she studied [[dairy farming]].

Macarthur-Onslow read law at [[Trinity College, Cambridge]], receiving [[Bachelor of Arts]] (BA) and [[Bachelor of Laws]] (LLB) degrees in 1890.<ref>{{acad|id= ONSW887JW|name=Onslow (post Macarthur-Onslow), James William Macarthur}}</ref> He returned to Australia in 1891. He married Enid Emma Macarthur, the granddaughter of [[Hannibal Hawkins Macarthur]] in 1897.<ref name=adb>{{cite AuDB |first=G P |last=Walsh |title=Macarthur-Onslow, James William (1867–1946) |id2=macarthur-onslow-james-william-7287 |accessdate=2 November 2019}}</ref> – James' great-grandfather and Enid's great-grandfather were brothers.

==Military career==
Macarthur-Onslow was commissioned captain of the [[Camden, New South Wales|Camden]] Squadron of the [[New South Wales Mounted Rifles]] in 1892. In 1894 he was selected by commandant of the military forces in New South Wales, [[Colonel (United Kingdom)|Colonel]] [[Edward Hutton (British Army officer)|Edward Hutton]], for training in India with the [[11th Hussars]], the [[Royal Artillery]], and the 1st Battalion, [[King's Royal Rifle Corps]] of the [[British Army]]. He served in India from 1894 to 1895, seeing active service in the [[Chitral Expedition]].<ref name=adb/>

In 1900 Macarthur-Onslow made his own way to South Africa in 1900 to participate in the [[Second Boer War]],<ref name=adb/> where he served as [[aide-de-camp]] to Hutton, who was now a [[Major general (United Kingdom)|major general]]. He participated in operations in the [[Orange Free State]] from February to May 1900, including the actions at Vet River and Zand River, and operations in the [[South African Republic|Transvaal]] from May to November 1900.<ref name="naa"/> For this service, he was [[mentioned in despatches]] by Field Marshal [[Frederick Roberts, 1st Earl Roberts|Lord Roberts]].<ref name="mid1">{{London Gazette|issue=27353|page=5927|date=10 September 1901}}</ref> He returned to Australia in March 1901,<ref name="naa">{{cite web | title= B2455 ONSLOW James William Macarthur | publisher= [[National Archives of Australia]] | url= http://naa12.naa.gov.au/scripts/imagine.asp?B=8001585&I=1&SE=1 | accessdate= 15 November 2009 }}{{Dead link|date=August 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> but was later appointed to command the 5th Battalion, [[Australian Commonwealth Horse]].<ref name="nsw"/>

Macarthur-Onslow served as [[aide-de-camp]] to the [[Governor-General of Australia]], the [[John Hope, 1st Marquess of Linlithgow|Earl of Hopetoun]] in 1902. He commanded the 2nd Light Horse Regiment from July 1903 until December 1907 when he was promoted to [[colonel]] on assuming command of the 1st Light Horse Brigade. He was on the unattached list in January 1910. Although too old for active service during the [[First World War]], Macarthur-Onslow held the rank of colonel with the Sea Transport Service of the [[First Australian Imperial Force|Australian Imperial Force]], commanding troop ships travelling between Australia, the Middle East and Britain between 1915 and 1917. He was aide-de-camp to the Governor-General a second time from 1917 to 1920. He retired with the rank of [[Major general (Australia)|major general]] in 1925.<ref name=adb/>

==Political career==
Macarthur-Onslow served the people of New South Wales as a member of the [[New South Wales Legislative Assembly]], representing the seats of [[Electoral district of Waverley|Waverley]] from 1907 to 1913,<ref>{{Cite NSW election |year=DistrictIndexes |district=Waverley |title=Elections for Waverley |accessdate=24 July 2020}}</ref> [[Electoral district of Bondi|Bondi]] from 1913 to 1920,<ref>{{Cite NSW election |year=DistrictIndexes |district=Bondi |title=Elections for Bondi |accessdate=24 July 2020}}</ref> and [[Electoral district of Eastern Suburbs (New South Wales)|Eastern Suburbs]] from 1920 to 1922.<ref name=nsw>{{cite NSW Parliament |title=Major General James William Macarthur-Onslow (1867–1946) |id=1190 |former=Yes |accessdate=11 May 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite NSW election |year=DistrictIndexes |district=Eastern Suburbs |title=Elections for Eastern Suburbs |accessdate=24 July 2020}}</ref> He was nominated to the [[New South Wales Legislative Council]] in 1922, then a lifetime appointment, and served there until 1933, but was largely inactive.<ref name=adb/>

==Later life==
Macarthur-Onslow served as a director of the [[Commercial Banking Company of Sydney]] Limited and [[CSR Limited|The Colonial Sugar Refining Company Limited]]. His other appointments included president of the [[Australian Club]] and director of the [[Royal Prince Alfred Hospital]] 1909 until 1929.<ref name="nsw"/>

Macarthur-Onslow died at Camden Park and was survived by his wife, his son and his two daughters.<ref name=adb/> His papers are in the Mitchell Library, [[State Library of New South Wales]].<ref name="nsw"/>

==Family tree==
{{see also|Macarthur family}}
{{Tree list}}
* '''Arthur Pooley Onslow''' m. Rosa Roberta, ''[[née]]'' Macleay (m. 1832)
**[[Captain (Royal Navy)|Captain]] '''[[Arthur Onslow (Australian politician)|Arthur Alexander Walton Onslow]]''' (1833–1882)<ref>{{cite AuDB |first=Bede |last=Nairn |id2=onslow-arthur-alexander-4335 |title=Onslow, Arthur Alexander Walton (1833–1882) |volume=5 |pages=369–370 |accessdate=2 November 2019}}</ref> m. Elizabeth, ''née'' Macarthur (1840–1911); changed her name to Macarthur-Onslow in 1892
*** '''James William Macarthur-Onslow''' (1867–1946) m. Enid Emma, ''née'' Macarthur
*** '''James Arthur Macarthur-Onslow''' (1898–1959) m. Constance, ''née'' Herbert; disinherited and bankrupted by his father
*** '''Helen Maud Macarthur-Onslow''' (1899–1968) m. Major General Sir Reginald Stanham; inherited Camden Park Estate
**** '''Brigadier Richard Quentin Macarthur-Stanham'''; inherited Camden Park Estate
*** '''Elizabeth Enid Macarthur-Onslow''' (1903–1990) m. Frederick Rothe
*** '''William Macarthur-Onslow'''; died in WWI
*** '''Emily Susan Macarthur-Onslow''' (1869–1876)
*** '''Rosa Sibella Macarthur-Onslow''' (1871–1943)<ref>{{cite AuDB |author=Simpson, Caroline |id=A100191b.htm |title=Macarthur Onslow, Rosa Sibella (1871–1943) |volume=10 |year=1986 |access-date=28 December 2022 }}</ref>
*** [[Brigadier General (Australia)|Brigadier General]] '''[[George Macarthur-Onslow|George Macleay Macarthur-Onslow]]''' (1875–1931) m. Violet Marguerite, ''née'' Gordon (m. 16 October 1909 at Manar, near Braidwood)
*** (Francis) '''[[Arthur Macarthur-Onslow]]''' (1879–1938) m. Sylvia Seton Raymond, née Chisholm (m. 16 May 1903 at Goulburn)
**** Major General Sir '''Denzil Macarthur-Onslow''' (1904–1984)<ref>{{cite AuDB |id2= macarthuronslow-sir-denzil-14853 |last=McCarthy |first=Dayton |title=Macarthur—Onslow, Sir Denzil (1904–198) |volume=18 |year=2012 |access-date=28 December 2022 }}</ref> m. Elinor Margaret, ''née'' Caldwell (m. 1927; div. {{circa|1945}})
***** Ion Macarthur—Onslow
***** Neil Macarthur—Onslow
***** Diana Macarthur—Onslow
***** Ewan Macarthur—Onslow
**** ''Major General Sir Denzil Macarthur—Onslow (1904–1984)'' m. Dorothy Wolseley Conagher, ''née'' Scott ({{circa|1923}}–2013); (m. 1950 in Petersham)
***** Katrina Macarthur—Onslow m. Sir Charles Hobhouse
***** Lee Macarthur—Onslow (1952–2021)
** Sir '''[[Alexander Onslow|Alexander Campbell Onslow]]''' (1842–1908)<ref>{{cite AuDB |first=E. K. |last=Braybrooke |id2=onslow-sir-alexander-campbell-4334 |title=Onslow, Sir Alexander Campbell (1842–1908) |volume=5 |page=367–369 |accessdate=2 November 2019}}</ref>
{{Tree list/end}}

==Notes==
{{Reflist}}

{{s-start}}
{{s-par|au-nsw-la}}
{{succession box | title=Member for [[Electoral district of Waverley|Waverley]] | before=[[Thomas Jessep]] | after=[[James Fingleton]] | years=1907–1913}}
{{s-new |District}}
{{s-ttl | title=Member for [[Electoral district of Bondi|Bondi]] |years=1913–1920}}
{{s-non |reason=District abolished}}
{{s-new |District}}
{{s-ttl |title=Member for [[Electoral district of Eastern Suburbs (New South Wales)|Eastern Suburbs]] |years=1920–1922 |alongside=[[James Fingleton|Fingleton]]/[[Daniel Dwyer|Dwyer]], [[Harold Jaques|Jaques]], [[Charles Oakes|Oakes]], [[Bob O'Halloran|O'Halloran]] }}
{{s-aft | after=[[Hyman Goldstein (politician)|Hyman Goldstein]]}}
{{s-end}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Macarthur-Onslow, James}}
[[Category:Alumni of Trinity College, Cambridge]]
[[Category:Australian generals]]
[[Category:British military personnel of the Chitral Expedition]]
[[Category:Members of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly]]
[[Category:Members of the New South Wales Legislative Council]]
[[Category:People educated at Sydney Grammar School]]
[[Category:Military personnel from Sydney]]
[[Category:Australian military personnel of World War I]]
[[Category:1867 births]]
[[Category:1946 deaths]]
[[Category:Onslow family|James]]
[[Category:Macarthur family (Australia)|James]]
[[Category:Colony of New South Wales people]]
[[Category:Australian monarchists]]

James Macarthur-Onslow - Revision history

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