Daniel Pollen

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Hon. Daniel Pollen

In office
6 July 1875 – 15 February 1876
Monarch Victoria
Preceded by Julius Vogel
Succeeded by Julius Vogel
Constituency Legislative Council member

Born June 2, 1813(1813-06-02)
Kingsend, Dublin, Ireland
Died 18 May 1896 (aged 82)
Political party None

Daniel Pollen (June 2, 1813 - February 15, 1876) was the son of Hugh Pollen and Elizabeth née O'Neill, and became the ninth Premier of New Zealand, serving from July 6, 1875 to February 15, 1876.

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[edit] Early life

Pollen was born in Ringsend, Dublin. He likely grew up in Ireland, and in the United States of America, where his father helped to build the United States Capitol.

It is known that he graduated with an MD from school, though which school is not known. He traveled to New South Wales in the late 1830s, and moved to North Auckland in January 1840. He was a witness to the proceedings of the Treaty of Waitangi.

On May 18, 1846, he married Jane Henderson, the daughter of an officer of the Royal Navy (Lieutenant Essex, RN, of Demarara). He moved with her to Kawau Island in 1847, after becoming medical officer to a Scottish copper-mining company.

[edit] Entry into politics

Pollen spent several years on Kawau, during which time he began to contribute articles to the New Zealander supporting the agitation for responsible government. He was also to the fore in supporting temperance, scientific, and library movements there.

[edit] Auckland Province

When the New Zealand Constitution Act 1852 became law, Pollen was made chief clerk in the Auckland Superintendent's office. From there, he rose through the ranks. Two years after his original appointment, he was appointed Executive; in 1856 he was elected to the Auckland Provincial Council; in 1858 he was appointed Commissioner of Crown Lands for Auckland; in 1861, he was called to the Legislative Council as a representative. In 1862, he resigned as Commissioner of Crown Lands, and became the Deputy Superintendent of Auckland, where he served until the end of his second term.

In 1867, he resigned from the Legislative Council to become agent for the Central Government at Auckland. He returned to the Legislative Council in June 1868 to represent the Stafford Ministry.

In 1870, Daniel Pollen held four positions - Receiver of Land Revenue, Commissioner of Confiscated Lands, Commissioner under the Native Land Act of 1870, and Immigration Officer.

[edit] Premier of New Zealand

The Vogel Government recalled him to the Legislative Council in 1873, where he immediately became Colonial Secretary of New Zealand until 1877, when he became the Premier for less than a year. After he left this position, he served in the Legislative Council for 19 years until his death.

[edit] References

  1. An Encyclopedia of New Zealand, 1966
  2. Official Website of the Prime Minister of New Zealand - Past Prime Ministers

 

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