Edward Wingfield Humphreys
Encyclopedia
Edward Wingfield Humphreys (1841 – April 1892) was a New Zealand
member of parliament
representing Christchurch North
from 1889 to 1890. He was also a farmer in Otago, and his extended family included a number of political figures.
, Wales
. He was the second son of Erskine Humphrey, a barrister at law of Lincoln's Inn
. He received his education at Harrow School
, a boarding school in north-west London
in the town of Harrow
.
He emigrated to New Zealand and settled in Strath-Taieri district for farming. He purchased several areas of land (Six Mile, Garthmyl and Gladbrook), which were part of runs 213 and 213A.
He married Alice Humphreys (née Hawdon), the second daughter of Hon. Joseph Hawdon
MLC
on 22 April 1869 in Christchurch. He thus became brother in law with Robert Campbell
, who had married Hawdon's eldest daughter, Emma Josephine, on 2 December 1868 in Christchurch. Humphreys was also first cousin with Frederic Jones
, who represented the Heathcote electorate
in 1887-90.
(i.e., a significant pastoral land holder), he had 'decidedly liberal
' beliefs, and one of his best friends used to jokingly taunt him with being a 'beastly radical'.
caused the 19 June 1889 by-election
in the Christchurch North electorate
, contested by three candidates. Humphreys, John Ollivier
and Eden George
received 403, 378 and 184 votes, respectively. Ollivier had prior political experience, representing Christchurch Country
in the 2nd New Zealand Parliament
. Prior to that, he was the 2nd chairman of the Christchurch Town Council, a role that became that of Mayor of Christchurch
a few years later. For Humphreys, who was relatively new to Christchurch, to beat such a well known person with political experience showed how well regarded he had become in a short period of time.
The electorates in Christchurch were reorganised for the 5 December 1890 general election
. Christchurch North was abolished, and City of Christchurch
was set up as a three-member electorate. Humphreys decided to contest this electorate, and the six contenders received the following votes: William Pember Reeves
(2774 - elected), Westby Brook Perceval
(2721 - elected), Richard Molesworth Taylor
(2613 - elected), J. Tippett Smith (1811), Humphreys (1668) and Eden George (119).
was elected as Mayor of Christchurch
a few days prior to the general election, and his seat in the North-West ward of the Christchurch City Council
became vacant. Humphreys declared his candidacy for the city council ward on 10 December. Whilst Humphreys and W. I. Ballinger were nominated on 15 December for the 30 December election, Ballinger withdrew and Humphreys took his seat at the 23 December 1890 council meeting. He retained his seat on the city council until he left for England in September 1891.
in April 1892. The Humphreys had no children. He was survived by his wife, who married again in England in 1896.
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
member of parliament
Parliament of New Zealand
The Parliament of New Zealand consists of the Queen of New Zealand and the New Zealand House of Representatives and, until 1951, the New Zealand Legislative Council. The House of Representatives is often referred to as "Parliament".The House of Representatives usually consists of 120 Members of...
representing Christchurch North
Christchurch North (New Zealand electorate)
Christchurch North is a former New Zealand Parliamentary electorate.The electorate was in the northern suburbs of Christchurch, New Zealand.-History:The electorate existed three times:*1881 to 1890;*1905 to 1946;...
from 1889 to 1890. He was also a farmer in Otago, and his extended family included a number of political figures.
Early life
Humphreys was born in 1841 in MontgomeryshireMontgomeryshire
Montgomeryshire, also known as Maldwyn is one of thirteen historic counties and a former administrative county of Wales. Montgomeryshire is still used as a vice-county for wildlife recording...
, Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
. He was the second son of Erskine Humphrey, a barrister at law of Lincoln's Inn
Lincoln's Inn
The Honourable Society of Lincoln's Inn is one of four Inns of Court in London to which barristers of England and Wales belong and where they are called to the Bar. The other three are Middle Temple, Inner Temple and Gray's Inn. Although Lincoln's Inn is able to trace its official records beyond...
. He received his education at Harrow School
Harrow School
Harrow School, commonly known simply as "Harrow", is an English independent school for boys situated in the town of Harrow, in north-west London.. The school is of worldwide renown. There is some evidence that there has been a school on the site since 1243 but the Harrow School we know today was...
, a boarding school in north-west London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
in the town of Harrow
Harrow, London
Harrow is an area in the London Borough of Harrow, northwest London, United Kingdom. It is a suburban area and is situated 12.2 miles northwest of Charing Cross...
.
He emigrated to New Zealand and settled in Strath-Taieri district for farming. He purchased several areas of land (Six Mile, Garthmyl and Gladbrook), which were part of runs 213 and 213A.
He married Alice Humphreys (née Hawdon), the second daughter of Hon. Joseph Hawdon
Joseph Hawdon
Joseph Hawdon was a pioneer settler and overlander of Australia and New Zealand.Hawdon was born at Wackerfield, Durham, England, the son of John Hawdon. At the suggestion of his brother elder brother John , he decided to travel to Australia, arriving in Sydney in November 1834...
MLC
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:...
on 22 April 1869 in Christchurch. He thus became brother in law with Robert Campbell
Robert Campbell (New Zealand politician)
Robert Campbell was a 19th century Member of Parliament in Otago, New Zealand.He represented the Oamaru electorate from 1866 to 9 April 1869, when he resigned. He was appointed to the Legislative Council on 13 May 1870 and served on it until he died on 10 December 1889.-References:...
, who had married Hawdon's eldest daughter, Emma Josephine, on 2 December 1868 in Christchurch. Humphreys was also first cousin with Frederic Jones
Frederic Jones
Frederic Jones was a New Zealand politician. Originally from England, he settled in the colony in 1863 for health reasons.-Early life:...
, who represented the Heathcote electorate
Heathcote (New Zealand electorate)
Heathcote was a 19th century parliamentary electorate in Christchurch, New Zealand.-History:Heathcote existed from 1861 to 1893.George Williamson Hall resigned in 1862. He was succeeded by William Sefton Moorhouse in the 1862 by-election...
in 1887-90.
Political involvement
After having let his property, Humphreys retired to Christchurch in 1888. Although he was a squatterSquatting (pastoral)
In Australian history, a squatter was one who occupied a large tract of Crown land in order to graze livestock. Initially often having no legal rights to the land, they gained its usage by being the first Europeans in the area....
(i.e., a significant pastoral land holder), he had 'decidedly liberal
Social liberalism
Social liberalism is the belief that liberalism should include social justice. It differs from classical liberalism in that it believes the legitimate role of the state includes addressing economic and social issues such as unemployment, health care, and education while simultaneously expanding...
' beliefs, and one of his best friends used to jokingly taunt him with being a 'beastly radical'.
Member of Parliament
The resignation of Sir Julius VogelJulius Vogel
Sir Julius Vogel, KCMG was the eighth Premier of New Zealand. His administration is best remembered for the issuing of bonds to fund railway construction and other public works...
caused the 19 June 1889 by-election
Christchurch North by-election, 1889
The Christchurch North by-election of 1889 was a by-election held to elect a member to the New Zealand House of Representatives' 10th session. It was held to fill the gap left by Sir Julius Vogel, the former Premier of New Zealand. -References:...
in the Christchurch North electorate
Christchurch North (New Zealand electorate)
Christchurch North is a former New Zealand Parliamentary electorate.The electorate was in the northern suburbs of Christchurch, New Zealand.-History:The electorate existed three times:*1881 to 1890;*1905 to 1946;...
, contested by three candidates. Humphreys, John Ollivier
John Ollivier
John Ollivier was a 19th century Member of Parliament in Christchurch, New Zealand.He represented the Christchurch Country electorate from 1856 to 1860 when he resigned.-References:...
and Eden George
Eden George
Eden George was an Australian and New Zealand politician.Born in Forbes to photographer William Rufus George and Bettina Holme, he attended Sydney Grammar School before becoming a photographer in New Zealand, settling in Christchurch, of which he was mayor in 1893. He married Ada Jane Butler on 31...
received 403, 378 and 184 votes, respectively. Ollivier had prior political experience, representing Christchurch Country
Christchurch Country
Christchurch Country was a parliamentary electorate in the Canterbury region of New Zealand from 1853 to 1860. It was thus one of the original 24 electorates used for the 1st New Zealand Parliament.-Location:...
in the 2nd New Zealand Parliament
2nd New Zealand Parliament
The 2nd New Zealand Parliament was a term of the Parliament of New Zealand. It opened on 15 April 1856, following New Zealand's 1855 election. It was dissolved on 5 November 1860 in preparation for 1860–61 election...
. Prior to that, he was the 2nd chairman of the Christchurch Town Council, a role that became that of Mayor of Christchurch
Mayor of Christchurch
The Mayor of Christchurch is the head of the municipal government of Christchurch, New Zealand, and presides over the Christchurch City Council. The mayor is directly elected using a First Past the Post electoral system...
a few years later. For Humphreys, who was relatively new to Christchurch, to beat such a well known person with political experience showed how well regarded he had become in a short period of time.
The electorates in Christchurch were reorganised for the 5 December 1890 general election
New Zealand general election, 1890
The New Zealand general election of 1890 was one of New Zealand's most significant. It marked the beginning of party politics in New Zealand with the formation of the First Liberal government, which was to enact major welfare, labour and electoral reforms, including giving the vote to women.It was...
. Christchurch North was abolished, and City of Christchurch
Christchurch (New Zealand electorate)
Christchurch was a parliamentary electorate in Christchurch, New Zealand. It existed three times. Originally it was the Town of Christchurch from 1853 to 1860. From the 1860–61 election to the 1871 election, it existed as City of Christchurch. It then existed from the 1875–76 election until the...
was set up as a three-member electorate. Humphreys decided to contest this electorate, and the six contenders received the following votes: William Pember Reeves
William Pember Reeves
The Hon. William Pember Reeves was a New Zealand statesman, historian and poet, who promoted social reform.-Biography:...
(2774 - elected), Westby Brook Perceval
Westby Brook Perceval
Sir Westby Brook Perceval was a New Zealand politician of the Liberal Party.-Biography:Perceval was born in Launceston, Tasmania, and educated at Christ's College, and at Stonyhurst College in England. He married Jessie Johnston in 1880...
(2721 - elected), Richard Molesworth Taylor
Richard Molesworth Taylor
Richard Molesworth Taylor was a three-term New Zealand Member of Parliament. Born in London in 1835, he moved to Auckland on the Heather Bell in 1846. He travelled to Victoria in 1851, and later to New South Wales and participated in the gold rush before returning to Auckland in 1857...
(2613 - elected), J. Tippett Smith (1811), Humphreys (1668) and Eden George (119).
Member of Christchurch City Council
Charles Matthew GrayCharles Matthew Gray
Charles Mathew Gray was a New Zealand Independent Member of Parliament for Christchurch North, and Mayor of Christchurch.-Early life:Charles Gray was born in Geelong, Victoria, in Australia and came to New Zealand in 1862....
was elected as Mayor of Christchurch
Mayor of Christchurch
The Mayor of Christchurch is the head of the municipal government of Christchurch, New Zealand, and presides over the Christchurch City Council. The mayor is directly elected using a First Past the Post electoral system...
a few days prior to the general election, and his seat in the North-West ward of the Christchurch City Council
Christchurch City Council
The Christchurch City Council is the local government authority for Christchurch in New Zealand. It is a territorial authority elected to represent the people of Christchurch. Since 2007, the Mayor of Christchurch is Bob Parker, who stood as an independent candidate...
became vacant. Humphreys declared his candidacy for the city council ward on 10 December. Whilst Humphreys and W. I. Ballinger were nominated on 15 December for the 30 December election, Ballinger withdrew and Humphreys took his seat at the 23 December 1890 council meeting. He retained his seat on the city council until he left for England in September 1891.
Return to England
Humphreys returned to England as he had cancer, and he was given the advice that better specialist medical knowledge was available in his old country. A leaving party was organised for him by the Cambrian Society on 1 September 1891, which had a large attendance. Humphreys died from cancer in LondonLondon
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
in April 1892. The Humphreys had no children. He was survived by his wife, who married again in England in 1896.