Nathaniel Edwards

For other people named Nathaniel Edwards, see Nathaniel Edwards (disambiguation).

Nathaniel Edwards MLC (1822 – 15 July 1880) was a 19th-century Member of Parliament from Nelson, New Zealand.

Early life

He arrived in Nelson in January 1845 on the Slams Castle from London, England.[1] He married and had 12 children. His eldest son died in Paris in 1876 from typhoid fever.[2][3] He was 19 years old.

Nathaniel Edwards and Co

Edwards was a partner of the firm of Nattrass and Edwards, flax millers. This company ended in 1846. From 1846 to 1856 Edwards became a surveyor. In 1856 he joined the legal firm of Fell and Seymour and took over the company in 1857 with George Bennett. The new firm became Edwards & Co, a mercantile, importing, and shipping company. One branch of the firm was involved in shipping.[4]

In 1864 Nelson had been struck with gold fever. Edward's company's purchase of the Wallabi proved justified and business was so brisk that the Company decided that a further steamship was essential. The Kennedy, an Australian steamship of 149 tons that had been built for the Australian Steam Navigation Co., Sydney became available and was purchased. This vessel had a twin screw propulsion system which was new at that time.[5] Edwards retired from the firm in 1865 when he was bought out by the other two partners.

Warwick House

Warwick House as seen from Brougham Street

Warwick House, 64 Brougham Street, Nelson is one of the finest and largest examples of early Victorian Gothic Revivalism still remaining in New Zealand. The house was built for Arthur Fell (father of Charles Fell) in 1854 by builder David Goodall.[6]

Fell returned to England in the 1860s and sold his house and business to Edwards. Edwards expanded the house; firstly adding a new wing on the southern side consisting of fifteen rooms and two towers, and secondly adding the three storey north wing with a ballroom and four storey tower. When completed the house had about 50 rooms.[6] The building was registered on 25 November 1982 as Category II with the New Zealand Historic Places Trust, with registration number 1618.[7]

Political career

Parliament of New Zealand
Years Term Electorate Party
1868–1870 4th City of Nelson Independent

Edwards served intermittently on the Nelson Provincial Council (1868–1869 and 1875–1876).[8] In 1868, after Edward Stafford had resigned, he was elected to represent the City of Nelson electorate from 1868 to 1870, when he retired.[9] He was appointed to the Legislative Council on 9 July 1872 by the Fox Ministry and served until his death.[10]

In 1879 Edwards fell terminally ill from a bronchial affection.[11][12] When Edwards died on 15 July 1880, his estate was valued at eight hundred thousand pounds sterling, which was considerable in those days.

Notes

  1. ↑ Cyclopedia Company Limited (1906). "Present And Past Members Of Parliament". The Cyclopedia of New Zealand : Nelson, Marlborough & Westland Provincial Districts. Christchurch: The Cyclopedia of New Zealand. Retrieved 5 April 2012.
  2. ↑ Death of the Hon N Edwards MLC, Evening Post, Volume XX, Issue 164, 16 July 1880, Page 3
  3. ↑ Grey River Argus, Volume XXI, Issue 2332, 31 January 1876, Page 2
  4. ↑ "Nathaniel Edwards & Co.". Archives New Zealand. Retrieved 5 April 2012.
  5. ↑ "T.S.S. KENNEDY 1864-1929". THE NEW ZEALAND MARITIME RECORD. Retrieved 5 April 2012.
  6. 1 2 "Nelson's Dress Circle". The Prow. Retrieved 5 April 2012.
  7. ↑ "Warwick House". Register of Historic Places. Heritage New Zealand. Retrieved 5 April 2012.
  8. ↑ Scholefield 1950, p. 212.
  9. ↑ Wilson 1985, p. 194.
  10. ↑ Scholefield 1950, p. 34.
  11. ↑ Editorial, Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XV, Issue 168, 15 July 1880, Page 2
  12. ↑ The late Hon N Edwards, West Coast Times , Issue 3531, 27 July 1880, Page 2

References

New Zealand Parliament
Preceded by
Edward Stafford		 Member of Parliament for Nelson
1868–1870
Served alongside: Oswald Curtis		 Succeeded by
Martin Lightband
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