| The Honourable Sir Frederick Whitaker |
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| Frederick Whitaker, ca 1870s | |
| 5th Premier of New Zealand | |
| In office 30 October 1863 – 24 November 1864 21 April 1882 - 25 September 1883 |
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| Monarch | Victoria |
| Governor | George Grey Arthuer Hamilton-Gordon William Jervois |
| Preceded by | Alfred Domett (1863) John Hall (1882) |
| Succeeded by | Frederick Weld (1864) Harry Atkinson (1883) |
| Constituency | Legislative Council |
| Member of the New Zealand Parliament for Parnell |
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| In office 1866 – 1867 |
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| Member of the New Zealand Parliament for Waikato |
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| In office 1876 – 1879 |
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| 1st Attorney-General | |
| In office 7 May 1856 – 20 May 1856 |
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| In office 2 June 1856 – 12 July 1861 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born | 23 April 1812 Bampton, Oxfordshire, England |
| Died | 4 December 1891 (aged 79) Auckland, New Zealand |
| Political party | Independent |
| Spouse(s) | Jane Augusta Griffith |
| Religion | Anglican |
Sir Frederick Whitaker, KCMG (1812–1891) was an English-born New Zealand politician who served twice as the Prime Minister of New Zealand and six times as Attorney-General.
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Whitaker was born at the Deanery Manor House, Bampton, Oxfordshire, England on 23 April 1812, the son of Frederick Whitaker and Susanna Whitaker (née Humfrey). Frederick junior undertook a legal education and became a solicitor and attorney at the age of 27. A year later he sailed to Australia and then New Zealand.
Whitaker lived in Auckland and was appointed a County Court judge until this position was abolished in 1844, at which time he returned to work as a lawyer. He was appointed to the New Zealand Legislative Council in March 1845. He also served as a major in the militia.
After leaving the Legislative Council in 1846 he became a member again in May 1853. He also became the provincial law officer for Auckland Province in 1854.
Whitaker became the first Attorney-General of New Zealand in the Sewell Ministry led by Henry Sewell in 1856. He did not serve as Attorney-General in the subsequent Fox Ministry that was in power for a fortnight, but was again appointed to this position in the Stafford Ministry from 2 June 1856 onwards. He served as Attorney-General until the defeat of the Stafford Ministry on 12 July 1861 and went back to the law.[1] In October 1863 Whitaker was called upon to form a government to replace Premier Domett following his defeat at a vote of no-confidence.[2]
Whitaker's term as Premier lasted just over a year until November 1864. His term ended due to differences between himself and Governor Grey over the conduct of the New Zealand Wars. Whitaker also resigned as a member of the Legislative Council. He served briefly as the member of Parliament for Parnell from 1866 to 1867.
In October 1865 he was elected Superintendent of Auckland Province, which office he held until 1867. Then for nine years he stayed away from public office.
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| Years | Term | Electorate | Party | |
| 1866–1867 | 4th | Parnell | Independent | |
| 1876–1879 | 6th | Waikato | Independent | |
In 1876 he became MP for Waikato and later Attorney-General again in Atkinson's government; the Atkinson Ministry lasted until October 1877. Whitaker lost his seat in the House in 1879, when he was defeated for Eden. However when Premier Hall wanted him to serve as Attorney-General again, he was appointed once more to the Legislative Council in 1879. When Hall resigned in April 1882, Whitaker became Premier for the second time, serving until September 1883.
Whitaker was made a KCMG in 1884 and served again as Attorney-General, and as leader of the Legislative Council from 1887 to 1890. By then his health was failing, and he died on 4 December 1891.
| Political offices | ||
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| New office | Attorney-General 1856 1856–1861 |
Succeeded by William Fox |
| Preceded by William Fox |
Succeeded by William Fox |
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| Preceded by Robert Graham |
Superintendent of Auckland Province 1865–1867 |
Succeeded by John Williamson |
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