William Cutfield King
Encyclopedia
William Cutfield King was a 19th century New Zealand
politician who was elected to Parliament
, but was killed in the New Zealand land wars
before the first session.
shire, England
in 1829 as the only child of Captain Henry King (1783–1874) and his wife Mary Anne. He was twelve years old in 1841 when he came to New Zealand with his parents on board the Amelia Thompson. His father was the first commissioner of Taranaki.
William Cutfield King and Thomas King
(no relation) contested the Grey and Bell electorate in the 1860 election. On nomination day, the contestants addressed the electors and at the end of the meeting, the Returning Officer
requested a show of hands, which was declared to be in favour of Thomas King. Consequently, W. C. King requested an election, which was held on Tuesday, 27 November 1860. W. C. King and T. King received 93 and 34 votes, respectively, and William Cutfield King was thus duly elected to represent the electorate in the 3rd New Zealand Parliament
.
was an armed conflict over land ownership and sovereignty
that took place between Māori and the European settlers in the Taranaki Province
from March 1860 to March 1861. King was a captain of the local volunteer forces. His farm, known as Woodleigh, was just outside of the town of New Plymouth
(what is now the suburb of Frankleigh Park
) within sight of the garrison
on Marsland Hill. He occasionally went there to look after his cattle. On 8 February 1861, he was shot by Ngāti Ruanui
after reaching his farm. He tried to flee, but his horse had also been wounded. He could not escape in time and was killed by further shots fired at close range.
King was 32 years old when he died, and was survived by his wife and two daughters (the younger daughter was Constance Ada).
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...
politician who was elected to Parliament
Parliament of New Zealand
The Parliament of New Zealand consists of the Queen of New Zealand and the New Zealand House of Representatives and, until 1951, the New Zealand Legislative Council. The House of Representatives is often referred to as "Parliament".The House of Representatives usually consists of 120 Members of...
, but was killed in the New Zealand land 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 the first session.
Early life
King was born in DevonDevon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
shire, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
in 1829 as the only child of Captain Henry King (1783–1874) and his wife Mary Anne. He was twelve years old in 1841 when he came to New Zealand with his parents on board the Amelia Thompson. His father was the first commissioner of Taranaki.
Member of Parliament
William Cutfield King and Thomas King
Thomas King (New Zealand politician)
Thomas King was a 19th century New Zealand politician. He served in the first two Parliaments, and was otherwise active in New Plymouth. He was one of the first settlers, coming out on the first ship to New Plymouth in 1841....
(no relation) contested the Grey and Bell electorate in the 1860 election. On nomination day, the contestants addressed the electors and at the end of the meeting, the Returning Officer
Returning Officer
In various parliamentary systems, a returning officer is responsible for overseeing elections in one or more constituencies.-Australia:In Australia a returning officer is an employee of the Australian Electoral Commission or a State Electoral Commission who heads the local divisional office...
requested a show of hands, which was declared to be in favour of Thomas King. Consequently, W. C. King requested an election, which was held on Tuesday, 27 November 1860. W. C. King and T. King received 93 and 34 votes, respectively, and William Cutfield King was thus duly elected to represent the electorate in the 3rd New Zealand Parliament
3rd New Zealand Parliament
The 3rd New Zealand Parliament was a term of the Parliament of New Zealand. Elections for this term were held between 12 December 1860 and 28 March 1861 in 43 electorates to elect 53 MPs...
.
Death
The First Taranaki WarFirst Taranaki War
The First Taranaki War was an armed conflict over land ownership and sovereignty that took place between Māori and the New Zealand Government in the Taranaki district of New Zealand's North Island from March 1860 to March 1861....
was an armed conflict over land ownership and sovereignty
Sovereignty
Sovereignty is the quality of having supreme, independent authority over a geographic area, such as a territory. It can be found in a power to rule and make law that rests on a political fact for which no purely legal explanation can be provided...
that took place between Māori and the European settlers in the Taranaki Province
Taranaki Province
The Taranaki Province was a province of New Zealand from 1853 until the abolition of provincial government in 1876...
from March 1860 to March 1861. King was a captain of the local volunteer forces. His farm, known as Woodleigh, was just outside of the town of New Plymouth
New Plymouth
New Plymouth is the major city of the Taranaki Region on the west coast of the North Island of New Zealand. It is named after Plymouth, Devon, England, from where the first English settlers migrated....
(what is now the suburb of Frankleigh Park
Frankleigh Park
Frankleigh Park is a suburb of New Plymouth, in the western North Island of New Zealand. It is located to the south of the city centre. The suburb is built around the site of early settler Henry King's farm, Woodleigh, the father of William Cutfield King...
) within sight of the garrison
Garrison
Garrison is the collective term for a body of troops stationed in a particular location, originally to guard it, but now often simply using it as a home base....
on Marsland Hill. He occasionally went there to look after his cattle. On 8 February 1861, he was shot by Ngāti Ruanui
Ngati Ruanui
Ngāti Ruanui is a Māori iwi traditionally based in the Taranaki region of New Zealand. In the 2006 census, 7,035 people claimed affiliation to the iwi. However, most members now live outside the traditional areas of the iwi.-Early history:...
after reaching his farm. He tried to flee, but his horse had also been wounded. He could not escape in time and was killed by further shots fired at close range.
King was 32 years old when he died, and was survived by his wife and two daughters (the younger daughter was Constance Ada).