Title: The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Wellington Provincial District]

Author: Cyclopedia Company Limited

Publication details: The Cyclopedia Company, Limited, 1897, Wellington

Part of: The Cyclopedia of New Zealand

License: Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 New Zealand Licence

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The Hon. George McLean, M.L.C., was Commissioner of Customs in the Vogel Ministry, from the 3rd of July to the 1st of September, 1876; Commissioner of Telegraphs and Customs and Postmaster-General from the latter date to the 13th of September, 1876, in the Atkinson Government; Commissioner of Customs in the re-constructed Ministry till the 13th of October, 1877, and Postmaster-General and Commissioner of Telegraphs to the same date from the 12th of January, 1877; and Commissioner of Trade and Customs in the Atkinson Administration, from the 28th of August, 1884, to the 3rd of September, 1884. The honourable gentleman, who is the son of Mr. James McLean and Jane (Proctor) his wife, was born on the 10th of September, 1834, at Elgin, Scotland. At seventeen years of age he emigrated to the colonies, and was employed in Australia by the Colonial Bank of Australia, and afterwards by the Oriental Bank Corporation. Having gained large experience in this service, he crossed over to Otago, New Zealand, in 1862 to take the position of manager of the Dunedin branch of the Bank of New Zealand. Some years later the subject of this notice entered the political arena in the Provincial Council, in which he became Provincial Treasurer. He was largely engaged in commercial pursuits, and has been prominent in connection with many large colonial institutions up to the present time. In 1871 Mr. McLean was returned to the House of Representatives as member for Waikouaiti, which electorate he represented for ten years. At the end of this term he was called to the Legislative Council. The honourable gentleman was married on the 10th of March, 1867, to Miss Isabel, daughter of the Hon. Matthew Holmes, M.L.C., of Otago, but now residing in Wellington. His family consists of one son and five daughters. Mr. McLean has long been closely associated with the Colonial Bank of New Zealand and the Union Steam Shipping Company of New Zealand, Limited, and of both he has held the position of Chairman of Directors since their foundation. In 1890 he took a leading part in the great maritime struggle, and in the promotion of its settlement.

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