Alexander Grant McLean

McLean was born in Scotland, the second son of Captain John Leyburn Maclean, principal superintendent of convicts (1837–55), and his wife Jane Eliza, née Grant.^[2] He and arrived in Sydney, Australia with his family in the Earl Durham on 31 August 1837.^[1]

On 11 May 1842, McLean was appointed to a position on the department of the Surveyor General of New South Wales, Thomas Mitchell. McLean was appointed chief draftsman in 1856. On 12 August 1859 McLean was made acting Surveyor General by the then minister for lands, John Robertson (later Premier of New South Wales). McLean authorised the compilation of a map of New South Wales (published 1861); his work facilitated the introduction of the Robertson Land Acts. McLean was appointed Surveyor General on 1 November 1861.^[1]

McLean was a captain in the Sydney Battalion of Volunteer Rifles.^[3][4]