Thomas Dick (New Zealand)
Encyclopedia
Thomas Dick was a 19th century New Zealand
politician. He was Superintendent
of Otago Province
in 1865, then Minister of Justice
from 1881 to 1882, and Minister of Education
from 1881 to 1884.
, the son of Thomas Dick and Marjorie Dick (née Sherriff). In London
, he worked as a merchant. He came out to Dunedin
, New Zealand, in 1857.
on 12 February 1859. He was Superintendent
from 1865–67.
He represented four Dunedin electorates, first the City of Dunedin
electorate from 1860 to 1862 and 1862 to 1863, then the Port Chalmers
electorate in 1866 & 1866-67, then the City of Dunedin electorate again from 1879 to 1881, then the Dunedin West electorate from 1881 to 1884, when he was defeated. Previously he had not been defeated; he had resigned the seat he then held in 1862, 1863, 1866, 1867 and 1881.
In Port Chalmers, Dick was elected on 17 March 1866 and resigned on 15 October 1866. He successfully contested the 15 December 1866 by-election, but resigned again on 26 April 1867. David Forsyth Main
succeeded him through the 1867 by-election.
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...
politician. He was Superintendent
Superintendent (politics)
Superintendent was the elected head of each Provincial Council in New Zealand from 1853 to 1876.-Historical context:Provinces existed in New Zealand from 1841 until 1876 as a form of sub-national government. After the initial provinces pre-1853, new provinces were formed by the New Zealand...
of Otago Province
Otago Province
The Otago Province was a province of New Zealand until the abolition of provincial government in 1876.-Area:The capital of the province was Dunedin...
in 1865, then Minister of Justice
Minister of Justice (New Zealand)
The Minister of Justice is a minister in the government of New Zealand. The minister has responsibility for the formulation of justice policy and for the administration of law courts....
from 1881 to 1882, and Minister of Education
Minister of Education (New Zealand)
The Minister of Education is a minister in the government of New Zealand with responsibility for the country's schools, and is in charge of the Ministry of Education.The present Minister is Anne Tolley, a member of the National Party.-History:...
from 1881 to 1884.
Early life
Dick was born in EdinburghEdinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
, the son of Thomas Dick and Marjorie Dick (née Sherriff). In 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...
, he worked as a merchant. He came out to Dunedin
Dunedin
Dunedin is the second-largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the principal city of the Otago Region. It is considered to be one of the four main urban centres of New Zealand for historic, cultural, and geographic reasons. Dunedin was the largest city by territorial land area until...
, New Zealand, in 1857.
Political career
Dick entered public life soon after his arrival in Otago. He was elected to the Otago Provincial CouncilOtago Province
The Otago Province was a province of New Zealand until the abolition of provincial government in 1876.-Area:The capital of the province was Dunedin...
on 12 February 1859. He was Superintendent
Superintendent (politics)
Superintendent was the elected head of each Provincial Council in New Zealand from 1853 to 1876.-Historical context:Provinces existed in New Zealand from 1841 until 1876 as a form of sub-national government. After the initial provinces pre-1853, new provinces were formed by the New Zealand...
from 1865–67.
He represented four Dunedin electorates, first the City of Dunedin
Dunedin (New Zealand electorate)
Dunedin or the City of Dunedin or the Town of Dunedin was a parliamentary electorate in the city of Dunedin in Otago, New Zealand. It was one of the original electorates created in 1853 and existed, with two breaks, until 1905. Most of the time, it was a multi-member electorate.-History:From 1853...
electorate from 1860 to 1862 and 1862 to 1863, then the Port Chalmers
Port Chalmers (New Zealand electorate)
Port Chalmers then Chalmers was a parliamentary electorate in the Otago region of New Zealand, from 1866 to 1938. It was centred on the town of Port Chalmers, the main port of Dunedin and Otago.-History:...
electorate in 1866 & 1866-67, then the City of Dunedin electorate again from 1879 to 1881, then the Dunedin West electorate from 1881 to 1884, when he was defeated. Previously he had not been defeated; he had resigned the seat he then held in 1862, 1863, 1866, 1867 and 1881.
In Port Chalmers, Dick was elected on 17 March 1866 and resigned on 15 October 1866. He successfully contested the 15 December 1866 by-election, but resigned again on 26 April 1867. David Forsyth Main
David Forsyth Main
David Forsyth Main was a 19th century Member of Parliament in Otago, New Zealand.He represented the Port Chalmers electorate from 1867 to 1870, when he retired.-References:...
succeeded him through the 1867 by-election.