President Barron Field Biography

Barron Field   (1786 – 1846)

[Image Courtesy State Library NSW]

President Agricultural Society of New South Wales 1822-24

A direct descendant of Oliver Cromwell, Barron Field was the son of a London surgeon and apothecary. He trained as a barrister, was a lover of literature and a friend of the writer Charles Lamb.

In 1817 he arrived in New South Wales to take up an appointment as judge of the Supreme Court and was granted land at Cabramatta. As a leading citizen, rather than as an agriculturalist, he was elected founding Vice President of the Society but became President in short time due to the resignation of Sir John Jamison.

Barron Field was also the first President of the New South Wales Savings Bank. He was active in church affairs and a great supporter of Samuel Marsden. His poetry was the first book of verse to be published in Australia.

Having fallen out of favour with colonial authorities, Barron Field left the colony in 1824. He later became the first Chief Justice of Gibraltar.

A full list of Presidents can be found here.