Edward Deas Thomson (1800-1879)

Edward Deas Thomson was born in Edinburgh, and in May 1828 was appointed clerk to the Council of New South Wales. He married Governor Bourke's second daughter, Anne Maria, on the 18th of December 1833, and was appointed colonial secretary and Registrar of records in 1837, taking over from Alexander Macleay. In 1849 he was a member of Wentworth's select committee on Sydney University and in 1850 was appointed one of the 16 original member of the University's senate. In 1863 he was appointed vice-chancellor of the University of Sydney and in 1865 was appointed chancellor, an office he held until forced to retire due to ill health in 1878.

For more information see the Australian Dictionary of Biography Volume 2 1788-1850 edited by Douglas Pike.