Charles Button

Charles Button
Charles Button in circa 1890s
Member of the New Zealand Parliament for Hokitika
In office 14 January 1876 – 22 May 1878
Preceded by	John White
Succeeded by	Seymour Thorne George
Member of the New Zealand Parliament for City of Auckland
In office 28 November 1893 – 14 November 1896
Preceded by	Alfred Cadman, John Shera, Thomas Thompson
Succeeded by	James Job Holland, William Crowther, Thomas Thompson
4th Mayor of Hokitika
In office 1869–1870
Preceded by	Evan Prosser
Succeeded by	Samuel Boyle
1st Mayor of Birkenhead
In office 1888 – ca. 1899
Preceded by	new role
Succeeded by	Joseph Witheford
Personal details
Born	23 August 1838 Launceston, Tasmania
Died	27 December 1920(1920-12-27) (aged 82) Auckland, New Zealand
Resting place	Waikaraka Cemetery, Onehunga
Spouse(s)	Louisa Button
Profession	Solicitor, judge
Religion	Presbyterian

Charles Edward Button (23 August 1838 – 27 December 1920) was a solicitor, Supreme Court judge, Mayor of Hokitika and later Birkenhead, and an independent conservative Member of Parliament in New Zealand. Born in Tasmania, he came to New Zealand with his wife in 1863. He first lived in Invercargill, then in Westland, and after a brief period in Christchurch, he settled in Auckland. He was an MP for two periods, and when he was first elected to Parliament, he beat his colleague, friend, political opponent and later Premier Richard Seddon; this was the only election defeat ever suffered by Seddon.

Button was born in Launceston, Tasmania, in 1838, the seventh son of Thomas Button. His father was a member of the first municipal council in Launceston, and his uncle William Stammers Button was the first Mayor of Launceston. He received his education at Hobart High School and was then trained as a solicitor at Douglas, Dawes and Miller in Launceston. He married Louisa Cowell, a daughter of Henry Cowell of Launceston, in 1862.

After running his own practice for a short time, Button emigrated to Invercargill, New Zealand, in 1863, where he continued to work in law. In 1865, he moved to Hokitika, and became a specialist in mining law. He practised with Walter Reid, who later became New Zealand's first Solicitor-General.

He moved to Christchurch in 1880 and had his office in Gloucester Street. Early in 1881, he moved into the offices of Henry Wynn-Williams in Hereford Street. He left Christchurch late in 1883 and moved to Auckland. In Auckland, he joined the firm of Whitaker and Russell. He later had his own practice under the banner of Buddle, Button and Co.