William Fitzherbert (New Zealand)
Encyclopedia
Sir William Fitzherbert KCMG
MLC
(15 August 1810 – 6 February 1891) was a New Zealand
politician. He served as Minister of Finance
, Speaker of the House of Representatives
, and Speaker of the Legislative Council
.
, England
, on 15 August 1810, and studied medicine in Paris
and London
. Late in 1840 or early 1841 he married Sarah Jane Leigh in London. They came to New Zealand in 1841, settling in Wellington
.
as a representative of the City of Wellington
electorate, but resigned part way through the term to successfully seek election as representative for the Hutt
electorate, which happened on 31 July 1858. He contested the general election on 29 December 1875 against Hutchison and obtained 178 votes, with Hutchison receiving 38. He retained the Hutt electorate until his resignation in 1879, so that he could appointed to the Legislative Council
. He also served as Colonial Treasurer (Minister of Finance
) for the duration of Frederick Weld
's premiership.
His son Henry
represented the Hutt electorate from 1884–90. His other son, William, later became Mayor of Lower Hutt.
of the Wellington Province
from 1871 until the abolition of the provinces in 1876.
The Palmerston North
suburb of Aokautere
was once named after Fitzherbert, as he had promoted settlement of the Manawatu. The Fitzherbert East Dairy Factory building still carries the name these days.
from 1876 until his appointment to the Legislative Council, and then as Speaker of the Legislative Council
until his death.
He received a KCMG
in 1877.
He was survived by his two sons and his daughter Alice Jane, who married Sir Patrick Alphonsus Buckley
.
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....
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:...
(15 August 1810 – 6 February 1891) was a 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. He served as Minister of Finance
Minister of Finance (New Zealand)
The Minister of Finance is a senior figure within the government of New Zealand. The position is often considered to be the most important Cabinet role after that of the Prime Minister....
, Speaker of the House of Representatives
Speaker of the New Zealand House of Representatives
In New Zealand the Speaker of the House of Representatives is the individual who chairs the country's legislative body, the New Zealand House of Representatives...
, and Speaker of the Legislative Council
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...
.
Early life
Fitzherbert was born in DorsetDorset
Dorset , is a county in South West England on the English Channel coast. The county town is Dorchester which is situated in the south. The Hampshire towns of Bournemouth and Christchurch joined the county with the reorganisation of local government in 1974...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, on 15 August 1810, and studied medicine in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
and 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...
. Late in 1840 or early 1841 he married Sarah Jane Leigh in London. They came to New Zealand in 1841, settling in Wellington
Wellington
Wellington is the capital city and third most populous urban area of New Zealand, although it is likely to have surpassed Christchurch due to the exodus following the Canterbury Earthquake. It is at the southwestern tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Rimutaka Range...
.
Member of Parliament
He soon became active in politics, serving both on the Wellington Provincial Council and in the New Zealand Parliament. He was elected to the 2nd Parliament2nd 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...
as a representative of the City of Wellington
Wellington (New Zealand electorate)
Wellington , was a parliamentary electorate in Wellington, New Zealand. It existed from 1853 to 1905 with a break in the 1880s. It was a multi-member electorate. The electorate was represented by 24 Members of Parliament....
electorate, but resigned part way through the term to successfully seek election as representative for the Hutt
Hutt (New Zealand electorate)
Hutt was a New Zealand Parliamentary electorate. It was one of the original electorates in 1853 and existed during two periods until 1978. It was represented by 13 Members of Parliament.-Population centres:...
electorate, which happened on 31 July 1858. He contested the general election on 29 December 1875 against Hutchison and obtained 178 votes, with Hutchison receiving 38. He retained the Hutt electorate until his resignation in 1879, so that he could appointed to the 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:...
. He also served as Colonial Treasurer (Minister of Finance
Minister of Finance (New Zealand)
The Minister of Finance is a senior figure within the government of New Zealand. The position is often considered to be the most important Cabinet role after that of the Prime Minister....
) for the duration of Frederick Weld
Frederick Weld
Sir Frederick Aloysius Weld, GCMG , was a New Zealand politician and a governor of various British colonies. He was the sixth Premier of New Zealand, and later served as Governor of Western Australia, Governor of Tasmania, and Governor of the Straits Settlements.-Early life:Weld was born near...
's premiership.
His son Henry
Henry Samuel Fitzherbert
Henry Samuel Fitzherbert was a 19th century Member of Parliament in Wellington, New Zealand.He represented the Hutt electorate from 1884 to 1890, when he retired.-References:...
represented the Hutt electorate from 1884–90. His other son, William, later became Mayor of Lower Hutt.
Wellington Province
Fitzherbert was SuperintendentSuperintendent (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 the Wellington Province
Wellington Province
The Wellington Province was a province of New Zealand until the abolition of provincial government in 1876.-Area:...
from 1871 until the abolition of the provinces in 1876.
The Palmerston North
Palmerston North
Palmerston North is the main city of the Manawatu-Wanganui region of the North Island of New Zealand. It is an inland city with a population of and is the country's seventh largest city and eighth largest urban area. Palmerston North is located in the eastern Manawatu Plains near the north bank...
suburb of Aokautere
Aokautere
Aokautere is a suburb of Palmerston North, Manawatu-Wanganui, New Zealand.It is situated in the cliffs on the south banks of the Manawatu River.-History:...
was once named after Fitzherbert, as he had promoted settlement of the Manawatu. The Fitzherbert East Dairy Factory building still carries the name these days.
Speaker of the House
He served as Speaker of the House of RepresentativesSpeaker of the New Zealand House of Representatives
In New Zealand the Speaker of the House of Representatives is the individual who chairs the country's legislative body, the New Zealand House of Representatives...
from 1876 until his appointment to the Legislative Council, and then as Speaker of the 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:...
until his death.
He received a 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 1877.
Death
Fitzherbert died on 6 February 1891 at his residence in Lower Hutt. He was buried at Lower Hutt cemetery on 10 February next to his late wife, who had died on 21 August 1886.He was survived by his two sons and his daughter Alice Jane, who married Sir Patrick Alphonsus Buckley
Patrick Alphonsus Buckley
Sir Patrick Alphonsus Buckley was a New Zealand soldier, lawyer, statesman, and judge who held several high government posts in Wellington in the early 1890s.-Early life:...
.