William Steward (New Zealand politician)

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For other people with similar names, see William Steward (disambiguation)

Sir William Jukes Steward (1841 - October 30, 1912) was a New Zealand politician and the first Liberal Speaker of the New Zealand House of Representatives.

[edit] Early life

Steward was born in Reading, Berkshire, in England, and emigrated to New Zealand in 1862, settling in Canterbury. He worked as a journalist for the North Otago Times in Oamaru.

[edit] Member of Parliament

Parl.	Electorate	Party
5th	Waitaki	Independent

8th	Waimati	Independent
9th	Waimati	Independent
10th	Waimati	Independent
11th	Waimati	Liberal
12th	Waitaki	Liberal
13th	Waitaki	Liberal
14th	Waitaki	Liberal
15th	Waitaki	Liberal
16th	Waitaki	Liberal
17th	Waitaki	Liberal

In 1871 he was elected as Member of the House of Representatives for Waitaki. He was defeated in the 1875 election, but was re-elected in 1881. He held his seat, through several boundary changes, until 1911, when he was appointed to the Legislative Council.

Steward was elected Speaker when the First Liberal Government came to power in 1891, and held the position until 1893. He was knighted in 1902.