William Nairn (army)

William Nairn (1767 – 8 June 1853) was an English-born army officer and farmer in the Swan River Colony (now Western Australia).[1]

Born in England, Nairn was commissioned in the 46th (South Devonshire) Regiment of Foot on 12 May 1800, promoted to captain on 29 June 1809 and major on 30 August 1827. In early 1814 he was sent to Hobart Town in charge of a company. In 1818 Nairn sailed with his detachment for India. After retiring from the army, he eventually settled in the Swan River Colony in 1833.[1][2]

Nairn was the original grantee of 3,575 ha (8,830 acres), known as Grass Valley, east of Northam, Western Australia.[3] He later acquired a further 1,327 ha (3,280 acres) on the Canning River.[1]

Nairn's only son, William Edward Nairn became president of the Tasmanian Legislative Council.[4] Nairn died in Fremantle on 8 June 1853, at the age of 86.[5] Nairn Street in Fremantle is named after him.

  1. ^ a b c Dollery, E. M. (1967). "Nairn, William (1767–1853)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. Canberra: National Centre of Biography, Australian National University. ISBN 978-0-522-84459-7. ISSN 1833-7538. OCLC 70677943. Retrieved 13 July 2012.
  2. ^ "Shipping Intelligence". The Perth Gazette and Western Australian Journal. Vol. I, no. 14. Western Australia. 6 April 1833. p. 54. Retrieved 24 June 2019 – via National Library of Australia.
  3. ^ "City of Fremantle and Town of East Fremantle Street Names Index" (PDF). City of Fremantle. Retrieved 22 June 2019.
  4. ^ "Nairn, William Edward (1812–1869)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. Canberra: National Centre of Biography, Australian National University. 1974. ISBN 978-0-522-84459-7. ISSN 1833-7538. OCLC 70677943. Retrieved 14 July 2012.
  5. ^ "Family Notices". The Perth Gazette and Independent Journal of Politics and News. Vol. 6, no. 289. Western Australia. 8 July 1853. p. 2. Retrieved 24 June 2019 – via National Library of Australia.