Sir Alfred Jerome Cadman (17 June 1847 – 23 March 1905) was a New Zealand politician of the Liberal Party

New Zealand Liberal Party

The New Zealand Liberal Party is generally regarded as having been the first real political party in New Zealand. It governed from 1891 until 1912. Out of office, the Liberals gradually found themselves pressed between the conservative Reform Party and the growing Labour Party...

. He was the Minister of Railways

Minister of Railways (New Zealand)

The Minister of Railways was the minister in the government responsible for the New Zealand Railways Department 1895–1981, the New Zealand Railways Corporation 1981–1993, and New Zealand Rail Limited 1990–1993...

 from 1895 to 1899 in the First Liberal Government

First Liberal Government of New Zealand

The First Liberal Government of New Zealand was the first responsible government in New Zealand politics organised along party lines. The Government formed following the founding of the Liberal Party and took office on the 24 January 1891, and governed New Zealand for over 21 years until 10 July...

.

Early life

Cadman was born in Sydney, Australia, in 1847. His family emigrated to Auckland

Auckland

The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...

 in 1848.

Political career

He was the Member of Parliament for several electorates: Coromandel

Coromandel (New Zealand electorate)

Coromandel is a New Zealand electoral division returning one member to the New Zealand House of Representatives. Most recently it was represented by Sandra Goudie, who was MP from until retiring at the .-Population centres:...

 1881–90, Thames

Thames (New Zealand electorate)

Thames is a former New Zealand electorate, in the Thames-Coromandel District. It existed from 1871 to 1946.-Geographic coverage:The electorate is based on the town of Thames. At times, it covered the Coromandel Peninsula.-History:...

 1890–93 (resigned), City of Auckland 1893, Waikato

Waikato (New Zealand electorate)

rightWaikato is the name of a current electorate in the New Zealand Parliament from 2006; which earlier existed for two periods, 1871 to 1960 and 1969 to 1996 when MMP was introduced....

 1893–96 and Ohinemuri 1896–99, when he retired from the Lower House. In 1899 he was then appointed to the New Zealand Legislative Council

New Zealand Legislative Council

The Legislative Council of New Zealand was the upper house of the New Zealand Parliament from 1853 until 1951. Unlike the lower house, the New Zealand House of Representatives, the Legislative Council was appointed.-Role:...

, of which he was a member and the Speaker

Speaker of the New Zealand Legislative Council

The Speaker of the Legislative Council was the chair of New Zealand's upper house, the Legislative Council. The position corresponded roughly to that of Speaker of the House of Representatives...

 from 1904, until he died.

He was awarded the CMG

Order of St Michael and St George

The Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George is an order of chivalry founded on 28 April 1818 by George, Prince Regent, later George IV of the United Kingdom, while he was acting as Prince Regent for his father, George III....

 in 1901 and the KCMG

Order of St Michael and St George

The Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George is an order of chivalry founded on 28 April 1818 by George, Prince Regent, later George IV of the United Kingdom, while he was acting as Prince Regent for his father, George III....

in 1903.