Richard Molesworth Taylor
Encyclopedia
Richard Molesworth Taylor (1835–1919) was a three-term New Zealand
Member of Parliament
. Born in London
in 1835, he moved to Auckland
on the Heather Bell in 1846. He travelled to Victoria
in 1851, and later to New South Wales
and participated in the gold rush before returning to Auckland in 1857. There he briefly joined the militia, serving in the New Zealand Wars
, before becoming a government contractor. In 1869 he moved to Canterbury, working as a general contractor until becoming a Member of Parliament in 1886.
resigned his Sydenham seat
in Parliament in March 1886 on medical advice. Taylor successfully contested the subsequent by-election on 12 May
, gaining 438 votes against John Lee Scott (418), Samuel Paull Andrews
(230) and S. G. Jolly (2).
At the 1887 general election
, Taylor contested the electorate against John Crewes. They received 766 and 392 votes respectively, so Taylor entered the 10th New Zealand Parliament
.
The Sydenham electorate was abolished in 1890
so Taylor contested the City of Christchurch electorate
instead, winning the third highest number of votes in the three-member electorate. He unsuccessfully contested the 1893
and 1896
general elections, and the 1896 by-election.
Taylor died in 1919.
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
. Born in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
in 1835, he moved to Auckland
Auckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
on the Heather Bell in 1846. He travelled to Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
in 1851, and later 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...
and participated in the gold rush before returning to Auckland in 1857. There he briefly joined the militia, serving in the New Zealand Wars
New Zealand land wars
The New Zealand Wars, sometimes called the Land Wars and also once called the Māori Wars, were a series of armed conflicts that took place in New Zealand between 1845 and 1872...
, before becoming a government contractor. In 1869 he moved to Canterbury, working as a general contractor until becoming a Member of Parliament in 1886.
Member of Parliament
William WhiteWilliam White (New Zealand politician)
William White was a 19th century New Zealand Member of Parliament in the Sydenham electorate, and Mayor of Sydenham.-Early life:...
resigned his Sydenham seat
Sydenham (New Zealand electorate)
Sydenham was a New Zealand parliamentary electorate, from 1881 to 1890 and again from 1946 to 1996. It had notable politicians representing it like Mabel Howard , Norman Kirk and Jim Anderton .This...
in Parliament in March 1886 on medical advice. Taylor successfully contested the subsequent by-election on 12 May
Sydenham by-election, 1886
The by-election for Sydenham in 1886 was a by-election held during the 9th Parliament of New Zealand, on 12 May 1886. It was held because William White resigned his seat in March 1886 on medical advice. Richard Molesworth Taylor won the by-election against John Lee Scott, Samuel Paull Andrews and...
, gaining 438 votes against John Lee Scott (418), Samuel Paull Andrews
Samuel Paull Andrews
Samuel Paull Andrews was a 19th century politician in Christchurch, New Zealand. Originally from the Isle of Wight, he was the first working class man to become a Member of Parliament in his chosen country.-Early life:...
(230) and S. G. Jolly (2).
At the 1887 general election
New Zealand general election, 1887
The New Zealand general election of 1887 was held on 26 September to elect 95 MPs to the tenth session of the New Zealand Parliament. The Māori vote was held on 7 September. 175,410 votes were cast....
, Taylor contested the electorate against John Crewes. They received 766 and 392 votes respectively, so Taylor entered the 10th New Zealand Parliament
10th New Zealand Parliament
The 10th New Zealand Parliament was a term of the Parliament of New Zealand.Elections for this term were held in 4 Māori electorates and 91 European electorates on 7 and 26 September 1887, respectively. A total of 95 MPs were elected. Parliament was prorogued in October 1890...
.
The Sydenham electorate was abolished in 1890
New Zealand general election, 1890
The New Zealand general election of 1890 was one of New Zealand's most significant. It marked the beginning of party politics in New Zealand with the formation of the First Liberal government, which was to enact major welfare, labour and electoral reforms, including giving the vote to women.It was...
so Taylor contested the City of Christchurch electorate
Christchurch (New Zealand electorate)
Christchurch was a parliamentary electorate in Christchurch, New Zealand. It existed three times. Originally it was the Town of Christchurch from 1853 to 1860. From the 1860–61 election to the 1871 election, it existed as City of Christchurch. It then existed from the 1875–76 election until the...
instead, winning the third highest number of votes in the three-member electorate. He unsuccessfully contested the 1893
New Zealand general election, 1893
The New Zealand general election of 1893 was held on Tuesday, 28 November in the general electorates, and on Wednesday, 20 December in the Māori electorates to elect a total of 74 MPs to the 12th session of the New Zealand Parliament...
and 1896
New Zealand general election, 1896
The New Zealand general election of 1896 was held on Wednesday, 4 December in the general electorates, and on Thursday, 19 December in the Māori electorates to elect a total of 74 MPs to the 13th session of the New Zealand Parliament...
general elections, and the 1896 by-election.
Private life
Taylor was married in 1887 to Laura Augusta Gray (born ca. 1832), a daughter of S. F. Gray of London. She died on 21 December 1903 at their home in Waltham Road, Sydenham, aged 69.Taylor died in 1919.