Daniel Pollen
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The Honourable Daniel Pollen MLC |
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|---|---|
 |
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| 9th Premier of New Zealand | |
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In office 6 July 1875 – 15 February 1876 |
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| Monarch | Victoria |
| Governor | George Phipps |
| Preceded by | Julius Vogel |
| Succeeded by | Julius Vogel |
| Constituency | Legislative Council member |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
2 June 1813 Ringsend, Dublin, Ireland |
| Died | 18 May 1896 (aged 82) |
| Political party | None |
| Spouse(s) | Jane Henderson |
| Children | 8 |
| Religion | Roman Catholicism |
Daniel Pollen (2 June 1813 – 18 May 1896) 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.
The son of Hugh Pollen, a dock master, Pollen was born in Ringsend, 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.
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.
When the New Zealand Constitution Act 1852 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 to the Executive Council, and in 1858 he was appointed Commissioner of Crown Lands for Auckland. In 1856 he was elected to the Auckland Provincial Council for the Suburbs of Auckland electorate, where he served until 1861. From 1862 to 1865, he represented the Auckland East electorate on the Council.
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