Edward Wakefield (New Zealand politician)

Edward Wakefield in ca 1885
New Zealand Parliament
Years Term Electorate Party
1875–1879 6th Geraldine Independent
1879–1881 7th Geraldine Independent
1884 8th Selwyn Independent
1884–1887 9th Selwyn Independent

Edward Wakefield (22 May 1845 – 10 August 1924) was the son of Felix Wakefield, one of Edward Gibbon Wakefield’s younger brothers. Edward was born in Launceston, Tasmania, brought up in New Zealand, and educated in France and at King's College London.

He married Agnes Hall on 15 July 1874 at Christchurch. She was the daughter of George Williamson Hall, and John Hall was thus her uncle.[1]

He was a journalist and then politician in New Zealand, who showed considerable promise, though this was not fulfilled.

He was the Member of Parliament for Geraldine 1875–1881, then for Selwyn 1884–1887, when he resigned.[2] He won an 1884 by-election against John McLachlan,[3] and was then elected unopposed in 1884 general election some five months later.[4]

He was a colourful, volatile and ambitious politician. He was Colonial Secretary in the short 1884 ministry of Harry Atkinson; from 28 August to 3 September 1884.

He then concentrated on writing, producing New Zealand after Fifty Years (1889).

Later he moved to America, then London. He died in London, blind, in a Carthusian Charterhouse in 1924.

References

  1. ↑ Bohan, Edmund. "Wakefield, Edward". Dictionary of New Zealand Biography. Ministry for Culture and Heritage. Retrieved 2 December 2014.
  2. ↑ Wilson, James Oakley (1985) [First published in 1913]. New Zealand Parliamentary Record, 1840–1984 (4th ed.). Wellington: V.R. Ward, Govt. Printer. p. 242. OCLC 154283103.
  3. ↑ "Selwyn Election". The Press. XL (5755). 28 February 1884. p. 3. Retrieved 5 May 2012.
  4. ↑ "The General Election, 1884". National Library. 1884. p. 2. Retrieved 17 March 2012.
New Zealand Parliament
New constituency Member of Parliament for Geraldine
1875–1881 		Succeeded by
William Postlethwaite
Preceded by
Edward Lee		 Member of Parliament for Selwyn
1884–1887 		Succeeded by
John Hall
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