Assistant Commissary General William Lithgow 1784-1864

In January 1808 he was appointed a clerk in the army commissariat and in 1812 promoted to Deputy Assistant Commissary General in charge of the accounts branch in Mauritius. In 1823 he was sent to form a similar branch in NSW.

He sufficiently impressed Governor Brisbane with his simplified accounting and resulting economies that he was also made auditor general of colonial accounts, and acted as his private secretary. Successor Governor Darling also appointed him to the Board of General Purposes which reorganised NSW public administration. He was also appointed magistrate and acted as clerk of the Executive Council, and was appointed to the Legislative Council.

Darling stated he had 'no more zealous officer in the government', but the overload of work meant that he fell behind in his duties overall. He resigned as assistant commissary general and was appointed auditor-general.

Lithgow also acquired landed estate, was a shareholder in the Bank of NSW, a trustee of other financial institutions.