prime minister of Victoria, Australia, whose first government (1863–68) was cited as the most stable ministry in the province up to that time.

McCulloch went to Australia in 1853 to open a branch office in Melbourne for his mercantile firm. In 1854 he was nominated to the Legislative Council and in 1856 was elected to the Legislative Assembly for Wimmera. When he failed to form a ministry in 1857, he became minister of trade and customs and treasurer in 1859.

In his first ministry, McCulloch championed the popular struggle for protective tariffs against the resistance of the Legislative Council, and he eventually won. He was again prime minister in July 1868–September 1869; April 1870–June 1871; and 1875–77. Soon after his 1877 defeat he returned to England. He was knighted in 1870.