Thomas Mackenzie
Encyclopedia
Sir Thomas Noble Mackenzie GCMG
(10 March 1854–14 February 1930) was a Scottish
-born New Zealand
politician and explorer who briefly served as the 18th Prime Minister of New Zealand
in 1912, and later served as New Zealand High Commissioner
in London
.
. His family emigrated to New Zealand in 1858 when he was four and MacKenzie was educated at Green Island School and at the Stone School, both in Dunedin
. He tried his hand at surveying
, farming and commerce
.
for Clutha
in 1887. He resigned in 1896 to assess the British
markets for New Zealand products and remained in his native land for three years. On his return to New Zealand he was elected to Parliament successively for Waihemo
–1902, Waikouaiti
1902–1908, Taieri
1908–1911 and Egmont
(in the North Island) 1911–1912, never losing an election.
Mackenzie was also a notable explorer. He was a member of expeditions to the Tautuku Forest (1883), the wild country between Milford Sound
and Lake Te Anau
(1888; discovered the Sutherland Falls
), and the Matterhorn Mountains (1888; discovered a pass between Lake Manapouri
and Hall's Arm). He was the first person to try and map an overland route to Dusky Sound
(1894–1896). He crossed the land between Lake Te Anau and Lake Wakatipu
in 1907.
. In May he also became Minister of Agriculture with a seat in the Cabinet. He was then successively Minister of Customs, Minister of Education and Postmaster-General. In May 1912 he succeeded Ward as Prime Minister and also served as Minister of Lands. However, in July 1912 he lost a vote of no confidence and was appointed High Commissioner in London. He served in this role until 1920 and was New Zealand delegate at the peace conferences with Austria, Bulgaria and Turkey in 1919, a member of the Dardanelles Commission
and the Imperial War Graves Commission (later the Commonwealth War Graves Conmmission). In March 1921 he was appointed member of the New Zealand Legislative Council
for Otago
.
(KCMG) in 1916 and promoted to Knight Grand Cross (GCMG) in 1920.
His son Clutha Mackenzie
who was blinded at Gallipoli was active in work for the blind.
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....
(10 March 1854–14 February 1930) was a Scottish
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
-born New Zealand
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 and explorer who briefly served as the 18th Prime Minister of New Zealand
Prime Minister of New Zealand
The Prime Minister of New Zealand is New Zealand's head of government consequent on being the leader of the party or coalition with majority support in the Parliament of New Zealand...
in 1912, and later served as New Zealand High Commissioner
High Commissioner
High Commissioner is the title of various high-ranking, special executive positions held by a commission of appointment.The English term is also used to render various equivalent titles in other languages.-Bilateral diplomacy:...
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...
.
Early years
Mackenzie 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...
. His family emigrated to New Zealand in 1858 when he was four and MacKenzie was educated at Green Island School and at the Stone School, both in 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...
. He tried his hand at surveying
Surveying
See Also: Public Land Survey SystemSurveying or land surveying is the technique, profession, and science of accurately determining the terrestrial or three-dimensional position of points and the distances and angles between them...
, farming and commerce
Commerce
While business refers to the value-creating activities of an organization for profit, commerce means the whole system of an economy that constitutes an environment for business. The system includes legal, economic, political, social, cultural, and technological systems that are in operation in any...
.
Member of Parliament
Mackenzie was elected to the New Zealand ParliamentParliament 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...
for Clutha
Clutha (New Zealand electorate)
Clutha was a New Zealand Parliamentary electorate, from 1866 to 1996.-Population centres:This electorate is in the rural part of Southland.-History:The electorate was established in 1866...
in 1887. He resigned in 1896 to assess the British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
markets for New Zealand products and remained in his native land for three years. On his return to New Zealand he was elected to Parliament successively for Waihemo
Waihemo (New Zealand electorate)
Waihemo is a former parliamentary electorate in the Otago Region of New Zealand. It existed for two periods and was represented by two Members of Parliament.-History:...
–1902, Waikouaiti
Waikouaiti (New Zealand electorate)
Waikouaiti is a former parliamentary electorate in the Otago region of New Zealand, from 1866 to 1908.Waikouaiti was represented by ten Members of Parliament:* William Dick Murison 1866-68 * Robert Mitchell 1868-69...
1902–1908, Taieri
Taieri (New Zealand electorate)
Taieri is a former parliamentary electorate in the Otago Region of New Zealand, from 1866 to 1911.-Population centres:This electorate was based on the town of Mosgiel.-History:...
1908–1911 and Egmont
Egmont (New Zealand electorate)
Egmont is a former New Zealand electorate, in south Taranaki. It existed from 1871 to 1978.-Geographic coverage:Egmont is the old name of the mountain that is the Taranaki landmark of Mount Taranaki. A village north of the mountain is also called Egmont....
(in the North Island) 1911–1912, never losing an election.
Mackenzie was also a notable explorer. He was a member of expeditions to the Tautuku Forest (1883), the wild country between Milford Sound
Milford Sound
Milford Sound is a fjord in the south west of New Zealand's South Island, within Fiordland National Park, Piopiotahi Marine Reserve, and the Te Wahipounamu World Heritage site...
and Lake Te Anau
Lake Te Anau
Lake Te Anau is in the southwestern corner of the South Island of New Zealand. Its name was originally Te Ana-au, Maori for 'The cave of swirling water'. The lake covers an area of 344 km², making it the second-largest lake by surface area in New Zealand and the largest in the South Island...
(1888; discovered the Sutherland Falls
Sutherland Falls
Sutherland Falls is a waterfall near Milford Sound in New Zealand's South Island. At 580 metres the falls were long believed to be the tallest waterfall in New Zealand...
), and the Matterhorn Mountains (1888; discovered a pass between Lake Manapouri
Lake Manapouri
Lake Manapouri is a lake in the South Island of New Zealand. Its name is Maori for "sorrowful heart", though this name is misapplied due to an early cartographical error...
and Hall's Arm). He was the first person to try and map an overland route to Dusky Sound
Dusky Sound
Dusky Sound is a fiord on the south west corner of New Zealand, in Fiordland National Park.-Geography:One of the most complex of the many fjords on this coast, it is also one of the largest, 40 kilometres in length and eight kilometres wide at its widest point...
(1894–1896). He crossed the land between Lake Te Anau and Lake Wakatipu
Lake Wakatipu
Lake Wakatipu is an inland lake in the South Island of New Zealand. It is in the southwest corner of Otago Region, near its boundary with Southland.With a length of , it is New Zealand's longest lake, and, at , its third largest...
in 1907.
Minister and Prime Minister
In January 1909 he was appointed Minister of Industries and Commerce, Tourist and Health Resorts, Scenery Preservation and State Forestry Departments in the government of Sir Joseph WardJoseph Ward
Sir Joseph George Ward, 1st Baronet, GCMG was the 17th Prime Minister of New Zealand on two occasions in the early 20th century.-Early life:...
. In May he also became Minister of Agriculture with a seat in the Cabinet. He was then successively Minister of Customs, Minister of Education and Postmaster-General. In May 1912 he succeeded Ward as Prime Minister and also served as Minister of Lands. However, in July 1912 he lost a vote of no confidence and was appointed High Commissioner in London. He served in this role until 1920 and was New Zealand delegate at the peace conferences with Austria, Bulgaria and Turkey in 1919, a member of the Dardanelles Commission
Dardanelles Commission
The Dardanelles Commission was an investigation into the disastrous 1915 Dardanelles Campaign. It was set up under the Special Commissions Act 1916....
and the Imperial War Graves Commission (later the Commonwealth War Graves Conmmission). In March 1921 he was appointed member of 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:...
for Otago
Otago
Otago is a region of New Zealand in the south of the South Island. The region covers an area of approximately making it the country's second largest region. The population of Otago is...
.
Later years
He was appointed Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St GeorgeOrder 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....
(KCMG) in 1916 and promoted to Knight Grand Cross (GCMG) in 1920.
His son Clutha Mackenzie
Clutha Mackenzie
Sir Clutha Nantes Mackenzie was a Reform Party Member of Parliament.He won the Auckland East electorate in a 1921 by-election after the resignation of Arthur Myers; but was defeated in the next election in 1922 by John A...
who was blinded at Gallipoli was active in work for the blind.