At 08:42 PM 27/01/2009, you wrote: >Lachlan Macquarie is one of my favourite Governors and one of the better ones. It's not well know that Macquarie wasn't intended to be the governor. Colonel Nightingale was selected as governor, with Macquarie only in command of the military. In April 1809 Nightingale fell ill and resigned. As the least embarrasing solution for the colonial office Macquarie was hastily promoted in May, a fortnight before the ships set sail. So instead of spending only a few years as a military officer in one of Britain's colonies, suddenly without preparation he was thrown into governing the whole colony for 22 years. Gary _________________________________ Gary Luke ~ gary@feraltek.com.au Sydney, Australia