William Russell (New Zealand)
Encyclopedia
Sir William Russell was a New Zealand politician from 1870 to 1905. He was a cabinet minister, and was recognised as Leader of the Opposition
from 1894 to 1901.
England
and educated at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst
. His father Andrew Russell
was in the 58th Regiment of Foot
, and Russell came with him to New Zealand in the 1840s. He then joined the 58th Regiment, and came to New Zealand as an ensign in 1857. He transferred to the 14th Regiment of Foot and came out to Auckland in 1861, serving until 1862. In 1862 he sold his Captain’s commission and settled in Hawkes Bay as a sheepfarmer.
in the New Zealand Parliament on 30 December 1875 in the 1875 general election, and was re-elected on 8 September 1879 in the 1879 general election
. In 1881 after an electorate redistribution, he was defeated by Fred Sutton
for the Hawke's Bay electorate. He won the seat on 22 July 1884 in the 1884 general election
, and held it until he was defeated by Alfred Dillon
in 1905.
He was a Minister (Postmaster-General) in the short-lived Fourth Atkinson ministry of 1884; which lasted only six (or fourteen) days. In 1889 he joined the Fifth (and last) Atkinson ministry of 1887 as Colonial Secretary, Minister of Defence
and Minister of Justice
.
When the Liberal government of John Balance came to power in 1890
, the Opposition had not yet coalesced into a formal party. Russell was recognised as Leader of the Opposition
from 1894 to 1901.
He represented the colony at the Federation Conference
in Melbourne in 1890, and at the Australian National Convention in Sydney in 1892. He was appointed to the Legislative Council
on 26 June 1913. He died at Napier on 24 September 1913.
He lived on his estate Flaxmere
near Hastings
. He also owned Tunanui Station which he had bought with his brother near Napier. When the partnership expired he retained the Flaxmere and Sherenden estates. A sports lover, he was President of the New Zealand Jockey Club.
He was knighted in 1902. Though he had resigned from the Army in 1862, he seems to have used the title Captain until he was knighted. His full name according to electoral rolls and the Cyclopedia of New Zealand was Captain the Hon. William Russell Russell, then Sir William Russell Russell, i.e. Russell was his middle name and also his surname.
Leader of the Opposition (New Zealand)
The Leader of the Opposition in New Zealand is the politician who, at least in theory, commands the support of the non-government bloc of members in the New Zealand Parliament. In the debating chamber the Leader of the Opposition sits directly opposite the Prime Minister...
from 1894 to 1901.
Early life
He was born in Sandhurst, BerkshireBerkshire
Berkshire is a historic county in the South of England. It is also often referred to as the Royal County of Berkshire because of the presence of the royal residence of Windsor Castle in the county; this usage, which dates to the 19th century at least, was recognised by the Queen in 1957, and...
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...
and educated at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst
Royal Military Academy Sandhurst
The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst , commonly known simply as Sandhurst, is a British Army officer initial training centre located in Sandhurst, Berkshire, England...
. His father Andrew Russell
Andrew Russell (New Zealand)
Lieutenant-Colonel Andrew Hamilton Russell was a British Army officer. He was appointed to the New Zealand Legislative Council from 1861 to 1872, and was Minister of Native Affairs from 1865 to 1866 in the Stafford Ministry.Russell was commissioned into the 22nd Foot in 1828...
was in the 58th Regiment of Foot
58th Regiment of Foot
Three regiments of the British Army have been numbered the 58th Regiment of Foot:* 47th Regiment of Foot, 58th Regiment of Foot, numbered as the 58th Foot in 1747 and renumbered as the 47th in 1751...
, and Russell came with him to New Zealand in the 1840s. He then joined the 58th Regiment, and came to New Zealand as an ensign in 1857. He transferred to the 14th Regiment of Foot and came out to Auckland in 1861, serving until 1862. In 1862 he sold his Captain’s commission and settled in Hawkes Bay as a sheepfarmer.
Parliament
Russell was a member of the Hawkes Bay Provincial Council from 1870 until the abolition of the provinces in 1876. He won the election for the Napier electorateNapier (New Zealand electorate)
thumb|right|Boundaries of Napier Electorate for 2008 and 2011 electionsNapier is a New Zealand Parliamentary electorate, returning one Member of Parliament to the New Zealand House of Representatives. The current MP for Napier is Chris Tremain, of the National Party. He has held this position since...
in the New Zealand Parliament on 30 December 1875 in the 1875 general election, and was re-elected on 8 September 1879 in the 1879 general election
New Zealand general election, 1879
The New Zealand general election of 1879 was held between 28 August and 15 September to elect a total of 88 MPs to the 7th session of the New Zealand Parliament. The Māori vote was held on 1 and 8 September. A total number of 82,271 voters turned out to vote.The election came about when George...
. In 1881 after an electorate redistribution, he was defeated by Fred Sutton
Fred Sutton
Frederick Sutton was a 19th century Member of Parliament from the Hawkes Bay region of New Zealand.He represented the Napier electorate from 1877 to 1881, and then the Hawkes Bay electorate from 1881 to 1884, when he was defeated....
for the Hawke's Bay electorate. He won the seat on 22 July 1884 in the 1884 general election
New Zealand general election, 1884
The New Zealand general election of 1884 was held on 22 July to elect a total of 95 MPs to the 9th session of the New Zealand Parliament. The Māori vote was held on 21 July. A total number of 137,686 voters turned out to vote.-References:...
, and held it until he was defeated by Alfred Dillon
Alfred Dillon
Alfred Dillon was a Liberal Party Member of Parliament in New Zealand.He won the Hawkes Bay electorate in 1905, but was defeated in 1911....
in 1905.
He was a Minister (Postmaster-General) in the short-lived Fourth Atkinson ministry of 1884; which lasted only six (or fourteen) days. In 1889 he joined the Fifth (and last) Atkinson ministry of 1887 as Colonial Secretary, Minister of Defence
Minister of Defence (New Zealand)
The Minister of Defence is a minister in the government of New Zealand with responsibility for the New Zealand armed forces and the Ministry of Defence.The present Minister is Dr...
and Minister of Justice
Minister of Justice (New Zealand)
The Minister of Justice is a minister in the government of New Zealand. The minister has responsibility for the formulation of justice policy and for the administration of law courts....
.
When the Liberal government of John Balance came to power 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...
, the Opposition had not yet coalesced into a formal party. Russell was recognised as Leader of the Opposition
Leader of the Opposition (New Zealand)
The Leader of the Opposition in New Zealand is the politician who, at least in theory, commands the support of the non-government bloc of members in the New Zealand Parliament. In the debating chamber the Leader of the Opposition sits directly opposite the Prime Minister...
from 1894 to 1901.
He represented the colony at the Federation Conference
Federation of Australia
The Federation of Australia was the process by which the six separate British self-governing colonies of New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria and Western Australia formed one nation...
in Melbourne in 1890, and at the Australian National Convention in Sydney in 1892. He was appointed to the 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:...
on 26 June 1913. He died at Napier on 24 September 1913.
Personal
He married Miss Harriette Julia Hodgkinson of Cawley Priory, Sussex, England in 1867. They had seven children, four daughters and three sons. One son in the 14th Regiment was killed in the South African War.He lived on his estate Flaxmere
Flaxmere
Flaxmere is a suburb in the Hawke's Bay region of New Zealand's North Island.It is located North-west to the town of Hastings City, and is regarded as a suburb of its larger neighbor. It had a population of 10,400 according to the Hastings Council....
near Hastings
Hastings
Hastings is a town and borough in the county of East Sussex on the south coast of England. The town is located east of the county town of Lewes and south east of London, and has an estimated population of 86,900....
. He also owned Tunanui Station which he had bought with his brother near Napier. When the partnership expired he retained the Flaxmere and Sherenden estates. A sports lover, he was President of the New Zealand Jockey Club.
He was knighted in 1902. Though he had resigned from the Army in 1862, he seems to have used the title Captain until he was knighted. His full name according to electoral rolls and the Cyclopedia of New Zealand was Captain the Hon. William Russell Russell, then Sir William Russell Russell, i.e. Russell was his middle name and also his surname.