McGLASHAN, JOHN (1802-64) was born in Edinburgh of a family closely associated with the publishing business, and was educated at the High School and Edinburgh University. He studied law, and in 1824 was admitted to practise as a solicitor of the supreme court of Scotland. Increasing deafness incapacitated him from court work, and his practice did not thrive. He was an authority on certain aspects of law, and wrote several law books, of which some went into more than one edition.

McGlashan became associated with the movement for the foundation of 'New Edinburgh,' and from 1846 onwards gave his whole time to the movement in the capacity of secretary to the Otago Association in Edinburgh. For six years he devoted himself whole-heartedly to the work of the Lay Association, and did a vast amount of work. But for him the scheme would probably not have been so well carried out. Through him 'the strange and unheard-of name of Otago became familiar as a household word in every county and parish in Scotland.' He circulated an incredible amount of information throughout Scotland, in handbills, newspapers, and through the Otago Journal, of which he published eight issues between Jan 1848 and Aug 1852. When the first ships had sailed McGlashan redoubled his efforts, and it was admitted that the despatch of 12 of the 14 ships that left for the colony under the Lay Association was due solely to his energy and persistence.

While the controversy on the New Zealand constitution raged in England (1846-52), McGlashan watched it closely from the point of view of the Otago scheme. He was especially jealous that the proposals put forward by the Association in its printed literature should be honoured by the Government in the bill of 1852, and he wrung from the Colonial Secretary the promise of a charter which would enable the association to fulfil its commitments with prospective emigrants. Single-handed he obtained the inclusion in the bill of clause 78, which met this demand. Writing to him in 1852 Sir John Pakington (who piloted the measure through the British Parliament) warmly acknowledged his assistance. He had been in constant communication with the Colonial Office and with every member of Parliament whose interest could be of service to the cause.

When the Constitution Bill had been passed McGlashan felt that his work at Home was fully completed, and he turned his face towards the colony. With his wife and family he sailed in the Rajah, which arrived at Port Chalmers on 8 Oct 1853. McGlashan was entertained at a public dinner and forthwith became a leading citizen of Dunedin. The first Provincial Council had already been elected, but he was soon in service in the capacity of provincial treasurer. Early in 1854 he was sent by presbytery to accompany Bannerman on a visit to the Church members living in North Otago, outside the Otago block. He was also appointed to a committee with Dr Burns to report upon the state of the Maori and half-caste population of the province, with a view to the amelioration of their condition.

At the provincial general election in 1855, McGlashan was elected to the Council, in which he represented the Western District (1855-63). He was a member of the executive in 1855-59 as provincial solicitor and provincial secretary, and in 1858 was for a time deputy-superintendent. McGlashan's health received a severe shock when in 1861 an attempt was made to connect him with the financial scandal which caused the removal of Macandrew from the superintendency. The inquiry showed that he had no moral responsibility, and in the following year he was again a member of the executive. At the general election of 1863 he was nominated (in his absence) for the Waikouaiti seat, but was defeated by Vogel. McGlashan was outspoken in his criticism of Cargill and others for what he considered their betrayal of the Scottish basis of the settlement in extending the emigration scheme to embrace England and Ireland.

In 1862 he was appointed registrar of deeds, and he was a member of the education and lands boards, secretary of the education board and treasurer of the road board. He undertook in 1864 to codify the provincial ordinances for the government, but death intervened (2 Nov 1864) as the result of injuries received in a fall from his horse.

McGlashan married (1827) Isabella, daughter of William Macewen, lieutenant and adjutant of the 1st Royal Scots. She survived until 1888. McGlashan College now occupies the home of McGlashan at Balmacewen.

Otago P.C. Proc.; N.Z.C. (Otago Association papers); Hocken; Otago Witness, Mar 1898 (p); Otago Daily Times, 24 Jan 1930 (p).

Reference: Volume 2, page 10

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