Daniel Pollen
Encyclopedia
Daniel Pollen was the son of Elizabeth (née O'Neill) and Hugh Pollen and became the ninth Premier of New Zealand
, serving from 6 July 1875 to 15 February 1876.
, Dublin. Little is known about the early part of his life, but it is supposed that he grew up in Ireland and in the United States of America. However, his father was dock master of the Grand Canal Company at Ringsend in 1812, still held that office in 1832, and died in 1837 to be succeeded as dock master by Thomas Pollen. On some accounts, Pollen's father helped to build the United States Capitol
.
A doctor, Pollen claimed to hold the MD
degree, although where he graduated is not recorded. He travelled to New South Wales
in the late 1830s, and moved to North Auckland
in January 1840. He was a witness to the proceedings of the Treaty of Waitangi
. He began his practice as a doctor in Parnell, Auckland, in 1841. In 1844 he was appointed as a coroner
and held this post for four years.
On 18 May 1846, Pollen married Jane Henderson, the daughter of an officer of the Royal Navy
(Lieutenant Essex, RN, of Demarara). He moved with her to Kawau Island
in 1847, after becoming medical officer to a Scottish
copper-mining company.
became law, Pollen was made chief clerk in the Auckland Superintendent's office. From there, he rose through the ranks. Two years after his original appointment, he was appointed Executive; in 1856 he was elected to the Auckland Provincial Council
; in 1858 he was appointed Commissioner of Crown Lands for Auckland.
On 16 July 1861, he was appointed to the New Zealand Legislative Council
. In 1862, he resigned as Commissioner of Crown Lands, and became the Deputy Superintendent of Auckland, where he served until the end of his second term. He resigned from the Legislative Council on 4 December 1867 to become agent for the Central Government at Auckland.
He returned to the Legislative Council on 10 June 1868 to represent the Stafford Ministry. He resigned from the Legislative Council in 1870 to be agent in Auckland again.
In 1870, Daniel Pollen held four positions - Receiver of Land Revenue, Commissioner of Confiscated Lands, Commissioner under the Native Land Act of 1870, and Immigration Officer.
on 4 July 1873. He held this role until 13 October 1877 during various ministries. He became Premier on 6 July 1875 and led the Pollen Ministry until 15 February 1876. After he left this position, he was again appointed to the Legislative Council on 12 May 1873 and served for 23 years until his death on 18 May 1896.
Prime Minister of New Zealand
The Prime Minister of New Zealand is New Zealand's head of government consequent on being the leader of the party or coalition with majority support in the Parliament of New Zealand...
, serving from 6 July 1875 to 15 February 1876.
Early life
The son of Hugh Pollen, a dock master, Pollen was born in RingsendRingsend
Ringsend is a southside inner suburb of Dublin, the capital of Ireland. It is located on the south bank of the River Liffey, about two kilometres east of the city centre, and is the southern terminus of the East Link Toll Bridge....
, Dublin. Little is known about the early part of his life, but it is supposed that he grew up in Ireland and in the United States of America. However, his father was dock master of the Grand Canal Company at Ringsend in 1812, still held that office in 1832, and died in 1837 to be succeeded as dock master by Thomas Pollen. On some accounts, Pollen's father helped to build the United States Capitol
United States Capitol
The United States Capitol is the meeting place of the United States Congress, the legislature of the federal government of the United States. Located in Washington, D.C., it sits atop Capitol Hill at the eastern end of the National Mall...
.
A doctor, Pollen claimed to hold the MD
Doctor of Medicine
Doctor of Medicine is a doctoral degree for physicians. The degree is granted by medical schools...
degree, although where he graduated is not recorded. He travelled to New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
in the late 1830s, and moved to North Auckland
North Auckland Peninsula
The North Auckland Peninsula, frequently referred to simply as the Northland Peninsula, is located in the far north of the North Island of New Zealand. The peninsula is easily confused with, though not the same as Northland Region, which occupies the top 80% of the peninsula...
in January 1840. He was a witness to the proceedings of the Treaty of Waitangi
Treaty of Waitangi
The Treaty of Waitangi is a treaty first signed on 6 February 1840 by representatives of the British Crown and various Māori chiefs from the North Island of New Zealand....
. He began his practice as a doctor in Parnell, Auckland, in 1841. In 1844 he was appointed as a coroner
Coroner
A coroner is a government official who* Investigates human deaths* Determines cause of death* Issues death certificates* Maintains death records* Responds to deaths in mass disasters* Identifies unknown dead* Other functions depending on local laws...
and held this post for four years.
On 18 May 1846, Pollen married Jane Henderson, the daughter of an officer of the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
(Lieutenant Essex, RN, of Demarara). He moved with her to Kawau Island
Kawau Island
Kawau Island is an island in the Hauraki Gulf, close to the north-eastern coast of the North Island of New Zealand. At its closest point it lies off the coast of the North Auckland Peninsula, just south of Tawharanui Peninsula, and about by sea journey from Sandspit Wharf, and shelters Kawau Bay...
in 1847, after becoming medical officer to a Scottish
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
copper-mining company.
Entry into politics
Pollen spent several years on Kawau, during which time he began to contribute articles to The New Zealander supporting the agitation for responsible government. He was also to the fore in supporting temperance, scientific, and library movements there.Auckland Province
When the New Zealand Constitution Act 1852New Zealand Constitution Act 1852
The New Zealand Constitution Act 1852 was an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom that granted self-government to the colony of New Zealand...
became law, Pollen was made chief clerk in the Auckland Superintendent's office. From there, he rose through the ranks. Two years after his original appointment, he was appointed Executive; in 1856 he was elected to the Auckland Provincial Council
Auckland Province
The Auckland Province was a province of New Zealand from 1853 until the abolition of provincial government in 1876.-Anniversary Day:...
; in 1858 he was appointed Commissioner of Crown Lands for Auckland.
On 16 July 1861, he was appointed to the New Zealand Legislative Council
New Zealand Legislative Council
The Legislative Council of New Zealand was the upper house of the New Zealand Parliament from 1853 until 1951. Unlike the lower house, the New Zealand House of Representatives, the Legislative Council was appointed.-Role:...
. In 1862, he resigned as Commissioner of Crown Lands, and became the Deputy Superintendent of Auckland, where he served until the end of his second term. He resigned from the Legislative Council on 4 December 1867 to become agent for the Central Government at Auckland.
He returned to the Legislative Council on 10 June 1868 to represent the Stafford Ministry. He resigned from the Legislative Council in 1870 to be agent in Auckland again.
In 1870, Daniel Pollen held four positions - Receiver of Land Revenue, Commissioner of Confiscated Lands, Commissioner under the Native Land Act of 1870, and Immigration Officer.
Premier of New Zealand
The Vogel Ministry recalled him to the Legislative Council on 12 May 1873, where he became Colonial SecretaryColonial Secretary (New Zealand)
The Colonial Secretary of New Zealand was an office established in 1840 and abolished in 1907. The position should not be confused with the Colonial Secretary of the former Colonial Office of the United Kingdom....
on 4 July 1873. He held this role until 13 October 1877 during various ministries. He became Premier on 6 July 1875 and led the Pollen Ministry until 15 February 1876. After he left this position, he was again appointed to the Legislative Council on 12 May 1873 and served for 23 years until his death on 18 May 1896.