William Mercer (Australian politician)Major William Drummond Mercer (1796โ1871) was a British Army officer, landowner, pastoralist and politician in colonial New South Wales.[1][2] Mercer was the only surviving nephew of George Mercer.[2] Major Mercer, having retired from the 16th Lancers, departed Calcutta and arrived in Hobart in March 1838 along with his cousin, Lieutenant George Duncan Mercer. Mercer was a pastoralist with his two cousins, George Duncan Mercer and John Henry Mercer in properties near Geelong.[1][2] Mercer was elected to the district of Port Phillip in the New South Wales Legislative Council in June 1850.[1] He held that seat until it was abolished prior to the creation of Victoria (Australia) as a separate colony. Mercer returned to Scotland and settled in Perthshire.[2] References
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