Person

Macfarlane, John (1813 - 1873)

Born
31 July 1813
Glasgow, Scotland
Died
6 July 1873
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Occupation
Medical practitioner

Summary

John Macfarlane was a medical practitioner who, before settling in New South Wales, was ship's surgeon on several voyages in Arctic waters and on immigrant ships to New South Wales. He decided to remain in 1840 and for the next 33 years had a private practice in central Sydney. In 1845 he was appointed Honorary Physician to the Sydney Infirmary, an association which lasted until his death. Macfarlane was much concerned with medical education and the registration of properly qualified medical practitioners in the colony. From 1852 until 1873 he was a Member, and later President, of the Medical Board of New South Wales. As a Member of the New South Wales Legislative Council from 1858 until his death, he tried, several times and unsuccessfully, to introduce a Bill to regulate who could practice medicine in the colony. Between 1856 and 1870 he was Examiner in Medicine at the University of Sydney. He served as President in 1860 of the short-lived Australian Medical Association.

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Details

Chronology

1837
Education - MD, University of Glasgow, United Kingdom
1839
Career event - Passed the Medical Board of New South Wales
1840
Life event - Migrated to New South Wales
1840 - 1873
Career position - In private medical practice, Sydney
1845 - 1866
Career position - Honorary Physician, Sydney Infirmary
1852 - 1869
Career position - President , Medical Board of New South Wales
1856 - 1870
Career position - Examiner in Medicine, University of Sydney
1857
Career event - Registered to practice medicine in Victoria
1857
Life event - MD ad eudem, University of Melbourne
1858 - 1870
Career position - Member (appointed), Legislative Council, Parliament of New South Wales
1859
Career position - Vice-President, Australian Medical Association
1860
Career position - President, Australian Medical Association
1866 - 1873
Career position - Honorary Consultant, Sydney Infirmary
1869 - 1873
Career position - Trustee, Australian Museum
1869 - 1873?
Career position - President , Medical Board of New South Wales

Related Corporate Bodies

Published resources

See also

Helen Cohn

Created: 8 May 2025

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