Albert Laing's Birthday, 15/2/1855 (Alexander Laing) - Two Centuries of Tasmanian Jigs 1813-2024

(Composer bio from Two Centuries of Tasmanian Jigs 1813-2024)
Born at Mortlach, Forfar, Scotland, Laing enlisted in the Scottish 92nd Gordon Highlanders. While recruiting in Perthshire in 1813, he was charged with theft & sentenced to transportation. He arrived in Sydney on the Marquis of Hastings. He was later transferred to Van Diemen's Land as clerk to naval officer Drummond. Laing's first wife, Esther Roberts arrived in Van Diemen's Land in 1816. Together they reared five children. After emancipation Laing became a police constable. Appointed Chief District Constable of Sorell, he was present at the famous Brady raid there in 1825. He remarried in 1850 and had a further two children. He died in 1868 aged 77. Today Laing has a controversial reputation for violent actions he purportedly participated in against a group of traditional owners. He has a large pool of descendants throughout Tasmania.