Thomas King (New Zealand politician)
Encyclopedia
Thomas King was a 19th century New Zealand
politician. He served in the first two Parliaments, and was otherwise active in New Plymouth
. He was one of the first settlers, coming out on the first ship to New Plymouth in 1841.
on 21 November 1821. He received his education at the City of London School
and then at Oxford University
.
He came to New Zealand in March 1841 on the William Bryan. He married Mary Chilman (born in London), the daughter of the New Plymouth settler Richard Chilman, in 1846. She was the sister of Richard Chilman, the local secretary of the Plymouth Company. The Kings had seven children.
, serving as provincial treasurer.
King served in the 1st New Zealand Parliament
for Grey and Bell and resigned on 22 June 1855. He declared himself "tired of political life with its anxieties, cares, and responsibilities - with my severance from my home and my family". Financial worries may also have played a part - King was not by any means wealthy, and was consequently a notable champion of remuneration and expenses for MPs.
He entered Parliament again during its second term in the same electorate in a 28 May 1860 by-election. The by-election resulted from the resignation of Charles Brown
, whose militia service required his full attention. King was the only candidate in the by-election, and was thus declared elected.
William Cutfield King
and Thomas King (no relation) contested the Grey and Bell electorate in the 1860 election. On nomination day, the contestants addressed the electors and at the end of the meeting, the Returning Officer
requested a show of hands, which was declared to be in favour of Thomas King. Consequently, W. C. King requested an election, which was held on Tuesday, 27 November 1860. W. C. King and T. King received 93 and 34 votes, respectively. Thus, his namesake was elected, but didn't attend Parliament, since he was killed in the First Taranaki War
in February 1861 before the first session had started.
in New Plymouth for 16 years, from 1861 to 1878. He chaired the New Plymouth Harbour Board for many years until his death. He was the chairman of the New Plymouth Gas Company from its inception until his death.
He was survived by four sons, one daughter, and his wife. One of his sons, Truby King
, was at the time of his death the Medical Superintendent of the Seacliff Lunatic Asylum
. Truby's older brother Newton became a successful businessman in New Plymouth.
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 served in the first two Parliaments, and was otherwise active in New Plymouth
New Plymouth
New Plymouth is the major city of the Taranaki Region on the west coast of the North Island of New Zealand. It is named after Plymouth, Devon, England, from where the first English settlers migrated....
. He was one of the first settlers, coming out on the first ship to New Plymouth in 1841.
Early life
King was born 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...
on 21 November 1821. He received his education at the City of London School
City of London School
The City of London School is a boys' independent day school on the banks of the River Thames in the City of London, England. It is the brother school of the City of London School for Girls and the co-educational City of London Freemen's School...
and then at Oxford University
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
.
He came to New Zealand in March 1841 on the William Bryan. He married Mary Chilman (born in London), the daughter of the New Plymouth settler Richard Chilman, in 1846. She was the sister of Richard Chilman, the local secretary of the Plymouth Company. The Kings had seven children.
Political career
King was a member of the Taranaki Provincial CouncilTaranaki Province
The Taranaki Province was a province of New Zealand from 1853 until the abolition of provincial government in 1876...
, serving as provincial treasurer.
Member of Parliament
King served in the 1st New Zealand Parliament
1st New Zealand Parliament
The 1st New Zealand Parliament was a term of the Parliament of New Zealand. It opened on 24 May 1854, following New Zealand's first general election . It was dissolved on 15 September 1855 in preparation for that year's election...
for Grey and Bell and resigned on 22 June 1855. He declared himself "tired of political life with its anxieties, cares, and responsibilities - with my severance from my home and my family". Financial worries may also have played a part - King was not by any means wealthy, and was consequently a notable champion of remuneration and expenses for MPs.
He entered Parliament again during its second term in the same electorate in a 28 May 1860 by-election. The by-election resulted from the resignation of Charles Brown
Charles Brown (Taranaki)
Charles Brown was a New Zealand politician from the Taranaki area.-Personal life:Brown was born in London, England, the illegitimate son of Charles Armitage Brown and Abigail O'Donohue, an Irish house servant at Wentworth Place where Brown and Keats resided...
, whose militia service required his full attention. King was the only candidate in the by-election, and was thus declared elected.
William Cutfield King
William Cutfield King
William Cutfield King was a 19th century New Zealand politician who was elected to Parliament, but was killed in the New Zealand land wars before the first session.-Early life:...
and Thomas King (no relation) contested the Grey and Bell electorate in the 1860 election. On nomination day, the contestants addressed the electors and at the end of the meeting, the Returning Officer
Returning Officer
In various parliamentary systems, a returning officer is responsible for overseeing elections in one or more constituencies.-Australia:In Australia a returning officer is an employee of the Australian Electoral Commission or a State Electoral Commission who heads the local divisional office...
requested a show of hands, which was declared to be in favour of Thomas King. Consequently, W. C. King requested an election, which was held on Tuesday, 27 November 1860. W. C. King and T. King received 93 and 34 votes, respectively. Thus, his namesake was elected, but didn't attend Parliament, since he was killed in the First Taranaki War
First Taranaki War
The First Taranaki War was an armed conflict over land ownership and sovereignty that took place between Māori and the New Zealand Government in the Taranaki district of New Zealand's North Island from March 1860 to March 1861....
in February 1861 before the first session had started.
Professional life
Upon arrival in New Zealand, King was originally a farmer and later became the manager of the Bank of New ZealandBank of New Zealand
Bank of New Zealand is one of New Zealand’s largest banks and has been operating continuously in the country since the first office was opened in Auckland in October 1861 followed shortly after by the first branch in Dunedin in December 1861...
in New Plymouth for 16 years, from 1861 to 1878. He chaired the New Plymouth Harbour Board for many years until his death. He was the chairman of the New Plymouth Gas Company from its inception until his death.
Death
King died at 4 am on 28 April 1893 at his residence in Dawson Street, New Plymouth. He was buried two days later at Te Henui Cemetery.He was survived by four sons, one daughter, and his wife. One of his sons, Truby King
Truby King
thumb|Sir Frederic Truby KingSir Frederic Truby King CMG , generally known as Truby King, was a New Zealand health reformer and Director of Child Welfare. He is best known as the founder of the Plunket Society....
, was at the time of his death the Medical Superintendent of the Seacliff Lunatic Asylum
Seacliff Lunatic Asylum
Seacliff Lunatic Asylum was a psychiatric hospital in Seacliff, New Zealand. When built in the late 19th century, it was the largest building in the country, noted for its scale and extravagant architecture...
. Truby's older brother Newton became a successful businessman in New Plymouth.