John Nathaniel Wilson

The Honourable
John Nathaniel Wilson
Member of the New Zealand Legislative Council
In office
23 November 1877 – 22 June 1893
Personal details
Born1822
Died14 November 1895(1895-11-14) (aged 72–73)
Weybridge, Surrey, England

John Nathaniel Wilson (1822 – 14 November 1895) was a New Zealand politician.

Wilson was active as a barrister and solicitor in England. He came to New Zealand in 1859 and established a legal practice that year in Napier. He was appointed Crown Prosecutor for the Hawke's Bay in late 1859.[1][2] He resigned as provincial solicitor in June 1869[3] and was again appointed Crown Prosecutor for the Hawke's Bay in August 1870.[4] In 1874, he took Arthur Cotterill as a partner and the practice was then known as Wilson and Cotterill. Wilson retired from the firm in January 1891.[5][6]

Legislative Council

Wilson was appointed to the New Zealand Legislative Council on 23 November 1877[7] by George Grey in order to strengthen the Government in that Chamber. This caused considerable controversy as the appointment happened during a time that a vote of confidence was pending.[8] At first the governor, Lord Normanby, refused to make the appointment (a decision without precedent in New Zealand), but ultimately did so.[9] It was thought that Wilson would replace George Stoddart Whitmore as Colonial Secretary, or replace Robert Stout as Attorney-General, but this did not happen.[10][11] He was a member of the Grey Ministry as a member of the Executive Council without portfolio from 2 November 1878 to 8 October 1879.[12] He was a supporter of the Liberal party in the Upper House, and took a deep interest in the reforms introduced by that party. He resigned from the Legislative Council on 22 June 1893[7] and retired to England.[13]

Death

Wilson died at Weybridge, Surrey, on 14 November 1895, from throat cancer.[14]

Notes

  1. ^ "Local intelligence". Hawke's Bay Herald. Vol. 3, no. 115. 3 December 1859. p. 5. Retrieved 13 March 2020.
  2. ^ "District Court". Hawke's Bay Herald. Vol. 3, no. 122. 21 January 1860. p. 3. Retrieved 14 March 2020.
  3. ^ "Wellington". Hawke's Bay Herald. Vol. 13, no. 1056. 11 June 1869. p. 2. Retrieved 14 March 2020.
  4. ^ "Hawke's Bay Times". Vol. 16, no. 812. 11 August 1870. p. 2. Retrieved 14 March 2020.
  5. ^ "Local and general". Hastings Standard. Vol. X, no. 212. 22 September 1920. p. 4. Retrieved 13 March 2020.
  6. ^ "Notice". Hawke's Bay Herald. Vol. XXVI, no. 8882. 23 January 1891. p. 3. Retrieved 13 March 2020.
  7. ^ a b Scholefield 1950, p. 87.
  8. ^ Jackson 1972, p. 49.
  9. ^ Jackson 1972, p. 138.
  10. ^ "Evening Post". Vol. XV, no. 279. 28 November 1877. p. 2. Retrieved 14 March 2020.
  11. ^ "Town news". New Zealand Mail. No. 305. 8 December 1877. p. 14. Retrieved 14 March 2020.
  12. ^ Scholefield 1950, p. 37.
  13. ^ Cyclopedia Company Limited 1897, p. 79.
  14. ^ "Death of the Hon. J. N. Wilson, M.L.C." Auckland Star. Vol. XXVI, no. 274. 18 November 1895. p. 4. Retrieved 13 March 2020.

References