Macarthur was the eldest son of John Macarthur, and his wife Elizabeth. He was born at Bath, Somerset, England and arrived at Sydney with his parents in the ships Neptune and Scarborough in 1790 in the Second Fleet. Edward Macarthur is believed to be the only passenger on these ships of whom a photograph exists. The young Edward was sent to England to be educated in 1799.
Career
Macarthur returned to Australia in 1806, and took part with his father in the deposition of Governor William Bligh, as Bligh, in his dispatch to Viscount Castlereagh of 30 April 1808, requested that "two of the rebels Charles Grimes and Edward Macarthur who have gone home in the Dart may be secured, in order to be tried in due time". On Macarthur's arrival in England he entered the army as an ensign in the 60th regiment, serving at Corunna and in Sicily. In 1809 he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant. As part of the 39th Regiment he took part in the Duke of Wellington's campaigns in the Peninsular War and in France. In 1820 or 1829 he became a captain. In 1824 he paid a visit of 10 months to Australia as an agent of Thomas Potter Macqueen. After Macarthur's return to England, he was for some years secretary to the Lord Chamberlain. In 1826 he was promoted to the rank of major and in 1837 he was on the staff in Ireland. Macarthur retained his interest in Australia, on 3 July 1839 he addressed a long communication to the Right Hon. Henry Labouchère, suggesting that regular lines of steamers should be established in Australia to trade between the various ports. This was referred to the governor, Sir George Gipps, who in May 1840 replied that government aid was unnecessary, as a large company had been formed to establish a line of steamers of which James Macarthur was chairman. Edward Macarthur also promoted emigration in two small books, Colonial Policy of 1840 and 1841, as Illustrated by the Governor's Despatches, and the Proceedings of the Legislative Council of New South Wales and Brief Remarks on Colonization. In August 1840 Macarthur made a protest against the regulations that persons desiring to take up land in the Port Phillip district should have to proceed to Melbourne where all charts of land were kept for public inspection. He was made a Lieutenant-Colonel in 1841 and afterwards went to New South Wales as deputy adjutant-general. Macarthur became colonel in 1854. Macarthur travelled with the Commander-in-chief of British forces in Australia, Major-General Sir Robert Nickle, to the site of the Eureka Rebellion on 5 December 1854. There they talked with the miners openly; as a result of their investigations Nickle advised the withdrawal of martial law. Macarthur was appointed Commander-in-chief of British forces in Australia in 1855, to replace Nickle. On 1 January 1856, after the death of Governor of Victoria, Sir Charles Hotham, he was administrator of the State for 12 months.
Late life
Macarthur returned to London in 1860, was created in 1862 a KCB and given the colonelcy of the 100th Regiment of Foot the same year, a position he held until his death. He died in London on 4 January 1872 and was buried in Brompton Cemetery, In 1862, at the age of 73, he had married Sarah, who survived him. There were no children.
