William Campbell Walker

The Honourable
William Campbell Walker
CMG, MLC

William Campbell Walker, ca 1890s
9th Speaker of the Legislative Council
In office
9 July 1903  5 January 1904
Preceded by Henry Miller
Succeeded by John Rigg
Personal details
Born 1837
Bowlandstow, Midlothian, Scotland
Died 5 January 1904
Christchurch, New Zealand
Political party Liberal Party
Relations Frederick de Carteret Malet (brother-in-law)

William Campbell Walker, CMG (1837 – 5 January 1904) was a New Zealand politician.

Biography

Walker was born in 1837, at Bowlandstow, Midlothian, Scotland, the eldest son of Sir William Stuart Walker (KCB). He received his education at Trinity College, Glenalmond in Perthshire and then at Trinity College, Oxford. He graduated in 1861 and then completed a further MA degree.[1] Together with his brother, he emigrated to New Zealand and arrived in Lyttelton on board the Evening Star in January 1862.[1][2] The brothers then owned and ran a sheep farm at Mount Possession in South Canterbury.[1] When they bought the land, Walker was assigned some land in Riccarton. He later gave the land away, so that a settlement for working-class people could be established.[3]

Walker married Margaret Wilson the daughter of Archdeacon James Wilson. They were to have five sons and one daughter.[1][2]

New Zealand Parliament
Years Term Electorate Party
18841887 9th Ashburton Independent
18871890 10th Ashburton Independent

Walker was the first chairman of the Ashburton County Council from 1877 until 1893.[1] He represented the Ashburton electorate on the Canterbury Provincial Council in the 5th and 7th Council (14 June 1866 – 27 September 1867; 8 April 1874 – 31 October 1876).[4] Walker then represented the Ashburton electorate in Parliament from 1884 to 1890, when he was defeated.[5] He was appointed to the Legislative Council by the Liberal Government on 15 October 1892. He was reappointed on 15 October 1899.[6] He was a member of the Executive Council (20 February 1896 – 23 June 1903), Minister of Immigration (2 March 1896 – 20 June 1903) and Minister of Education (11 March 1896 – 20 June 1903).[7] While he was a minister, he mostly lived in Wellington.[2] He was created a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) in June 1901, on the occasion of the visit of TRH the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York (later King George V and Queen Mary) to New Zealand.[8] Walker ended his career as the Speaker of the Legislative Council from 9 July 1903 until his death.[9]

He was a member of the Board of Governors of Canterbury College. As a member of the cabinet, he was instrumental in passing the act that provided for the separation of the Agricultural College from the college proper.[1] He was a member of the Land Board of Canterbury from 1891 until 1896.[1]

Walker died on 5 January 1904 and was buried three days later at Sydenham Cemetery.[10] He was survived by his wife and his six children.[2]

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Cyclopedia Company Limited (1897). "The Hon. William Campbell Walker". The Cyclopedia of New Zealand : Wellington Provincial District. Wellington: The Cyclopedia of New Zealand. Retrieved 15 January 2012.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Death of the Hon. W. C. Walker". Otago Witness (2599). 6 January 1904. p. 46. Retrieved 14 January 2012.
  3. "State Housing". Christchurch: Christchurch City Libraries. Retrieved 15 January 2012.
  4. Scholefield 1950, p. 196.
  5. Scholefield 1950, p. 145.
  6. Scholefield 1950, p. 87.
  7. Scholefield 1950, p. 41.
  8. "No. 27325". The London Gazette. 21 June 1901. p. 4182.
  9. Scholefield 1950, p. 88.
  10. "Result Detail". Christchurch City Council. Retrieved 14 January 2012.

References

Political offices
Preceded by
William Pember Reeves
Minister of Education
18961903
Succeeded by
Richard Seddon
Preceded by
Henry Miller
Speaker of the New Zealand Legislative Council
1903–1904
Succeeded by
John Rigg
New Zealand Parliament
Preceded by
Edward George Wright
Member of Parliament for Ashburton
1884–1890
Succeeded by
Edward George Wright
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