• Entry type: Person
  • Entry ID: AWE3713

Lord, Maria

(1780 – 1970)
  • Born 1 January, 1780, Surrey United Kingdom
  • Died 1 January, 1970
  • Occupation Businesswoman, Convict

Summary

Maria Lord was sentenced to seven years transportation and arrived in Sydney in 1804. In October 1808 she married Edward Lord, an officer of the marines. While Edward built up extensive land holdings, Maria acted as his agent and ran his business ventures if he was abroad. She had sharp business sense, and extended the holdings of her husband and herself. Her control was said to extend over one third of the resources of Van Diemen’s Land: an impressive monopoly, but one that brought ruin to other settlers with smaller holdings.

Published resources