Sir Sam McCaughey, Died

Sir Samuel McCaughey (1 July 1835 – 25 July 1919) was an Irish-born pastoralist, politician and philanthropist in Australia.

McCaughey died at Yanco on 25 July 1919.

He was a generous philanthropist; he donated £10,000 to the Dreadnought Fund, £10,000 to Dr Barnardo’s Homes, gave liberally to the Red Cross and other war charities besides insuring 500 soldiers at £200 each.

After his death, his estate was sworn for probate at over £1,600,000. Apart from bequests of £200,000 and all his motor vehicles to his brother John and legacies to his station managers and employees, he left £10,000 to increase the stipends of Presbyterian clergy, £20,000 to the Burnside Orphan Homes at Parramatta, £20,000 to Scots College in Sydney, £10,000 each to five other independent schools (Newington College, Sydney Church of England Grammar School, Sydney Grammar School, Cranbrook School, Sydney and The King’s School, Parramatta), £5000 to the Salvation Army and £5000 each to seven hospitals.

Half the residue of his estate went to the University of Sydney (£458,000 from which nine chairs were created, including the McCaughey Chair of French) and to the University of Queensland.

The other half went to the relief of members of the Australian Military and Naval Expeditionary Forces and their widows and children.

His portrait by John Longstaff is in the Great Hall of the University of Sydney