Macquarie University Library

Historical Background

In 1964 the Lord Lyon, King of Arms in Edinburgh drew attention to the fact that although Lachlan Macquarie had used a particular coat of arms on many items of personal property (furniture, chinaware, carriages, wax seals) throughout his life, he had never formally matriculated them and he was not, legally speaking, entitled to use them. The Lord Lyon advised that for a fee the University could matriculate Macquarie's arms for him. This would give the University the exclusive right to display Macquarie's coat of arms on his behalf. As a consequence the University Council resolved to proceed with such an application "as a gesture of respect to the man whose name it had taken".

On 17 June 1966 Macquarie University petitioned the Lord Lyon, King of Arms, for a determination of Macquarie's arms. This determination was formalized on 6 February 1967 and registered on 27 April 1967. The matriculation of Macquarie's ancestral arms is by the authority of the Scottish King of Arms acting under a Scottish Act of Parliament.

Emeritus Professor Alexander George Mitchell, Vice-Chancellor of Macquarie University, having by Petition unto the Lord Lyon King of Arms of date 17th June 1966 for and in memory Major General LACHLAN MACQUARIE SHEWN; THAT Macquarie University is a body corporate constituted by the Macquarie University Act 1964, enacted by the Parliament of the State of New South Wales in the Commonwealth of Australia; THAT the said Major General Lachlan Macquarie was appointed Governor of the Colony of New South Wales on 26th April 1809 and continued to hold office as Governor until 30th November 1821; THAT the said Major General Lachlan Macquarie served in the 84th Regiment from 1776-1781, in the 71st Highlanders from 1781-1784, with the 77th (East Middlesex) Regiment from 1787-1801, with the 86th Regiment (Shropshires, Royal County Downs) from 1801-1805, and with the 73rd Regiment (Second Black Watch) from 1805-1810; THAT the name of the said Lachlan Macquarie is held in high esteem in the State of New South Wales where it is perpetuated in the name of one of the State's principal Western rivers and more recently - by the the naming of Macquarie University in Sydney by the Legislature of the said State; THAT there is reason to believe that the said Major General Lachlan Macquarie was a cousin of Lachlan Macquarie, XVIth and last Laird of Ulva; THAT Ensigns Armorial were used anterior to 1672 by the Family of Macquarie of Ulva; AND the petitioner having prayed that the foresaid Ensigns Armorial might be matriculated of new in the Public Register of All Arms and Bearings in Scotland in name of the said Major General Lachlan Macquarie with a suitable difference, the Lord Lyon King of Arms by Interlocuter of date 6th February 1967 Granted Warrant to the Lyon Clerk to matriculate in the Public Register of All Arms and Bearings in Scotland for and in memory of Major General Lachlan Macquarie the following Ensigns Armorial,videlicet: Quarterly, embattled; 1st and 4th, Vert, three towers in chief Argent masoned Sable; 2nd, Gules, three cross-crosslets fitchee Argent; 3rd, per fess Azure and Vert, a lymphad sails furled in chief, and a fish naiant in base, both Argent. Above the shield is placed an Helm befitting his degree, with a Mantling Vert doubled Argent and on a Wreath of the Liveries is set for Crest issuant from a tower-head embattled and crenellated Argent, a dexter arm in armour embowed, the hand grasping a dagger projected fessways all proper, and in an Escrol over the same this Motto TURRIS * FORTIS * MEUS * MIHI * DEUS *

Matriculated the sixth day of February 1967. Extracted furth of the 93rd page of the 49th Volume of the Public Register of All Arms and Bearings in Scotland this twenty-seventh day of April 1967.

Malcolm R. Innes of Edingight, Lyon Clerk