11 Facts About Stuart Donaldson

Stuart Donaldson entered his father's firm at the age of 15 and was sent first to Mexico, for business training.

In 1848, Stuart Donaldson was elected a member of the original unicameral Legislative Council of New South Wales, representing the County of Durham from February 1848 to January 1853.

Stuart Donaldson supported the development of steam ship services to Australia and the work of Caroline Chisholm.

From 1 February 1855 to 29 February 1856, Stuart Donaldson represented Sydney Hamlets in the council.

In March 1856, Stuart Donaldson was elected to the newly created Legislative Assembly of the first Parliament, representing Sydney Hamlets.

Stuart Donaldson was criticised for standing down so readily but he said, "my colleagues and myself are all too independent of office to cling to it", a somewhat prophetic remark.

Stuart Donaldson was succeeded as Premier by Charles Cowper and Stuart Donaldson served as Colonial Treasurer and was a Commissioner for Railways in 1857.

Stuart Donaldson was elected unopposed to Cumberland in October 1856, representing it to 1859.

Stuart Donaldson was a member of the Senate of the University of Sydney from 1851 to 1861 and his brother John helped to select its academic staff.

Stuart Donaldson returned to England for the last time in June 1859 and was knighted there in 1860.

Stuart Donaldson died at Carleton Hall, near Penrith in Cumberland, England on 11 January 1867.