Henry Colden Antill

Henry Colden Antill was born in 1779 in New York and grew up in Canada. His Loyalist father was forced to give up his New York farm and emigrate north after the American war of independence.

Antill joined the 73rd regiment of the British army at 17 and served in India, meeting and befriending superior officer, Lachlan Macquarie.

In Glasgow at the end of 1808, Captain Antill received word that he and his men were to report to England, where the Regiment was to accompany the new Governor of New South Wales on ships bound for Sydney.

In London, Antill was contacted by his commanding officer, Colonel Lachlan Macquarie. Macquarie informed Antill that the proposed Governor, General Nightingall, was seeking a suitable aide-de-camp, and Macquarie had recommended Antill. Official appointments could only be made upon arrival in New South Wales, but before the troops even left England, general Nightingall became ill, and the Governorship was offered to Macquarie.

On arrival in Sydney on January 1, 1810, Antill was officially declared aide-de-camp to Governor Macquarie, who had landed the day before ‘with all due ceremony’.

 > View Antill's journal describing his appointment to Governor's aide-de-camp