Edward Bishop (mayor)

Edward Bishop
Portrait of Edward Bishop
4th Chairman of the Christchurch Town Council
In office 15 January 1866 – 10 January 1867
Preceded by	Isaac Luck
Succeeded by	William Wilson
6th Mayor of Christchurch
In office 18 December 1872 – 18 December 1873
Preceded by	Henry Sawtell
Succeeded by	Michael Hart
Personal details
Born	1811 Maidstone, Kent, England
Died	25 April 1887 (aged 75–76) Cranmer Square, Christchurch Central City, New Zealand

Edward Brenchley Bishop (1811 – 25 April 1887) was the fourth chairman of the Christchurch Town Council, and seven years later the sixth Mayor of Christchurch in 1872–1873. Born in Maidstone, Kent to a wealthy family, his family lived in Belgium during his childhood. He took his father's profession as a distiller and worked in London for 21 years. His sister Susannah emigrated to New Zealand in 1849 and in the following year, many Bishop siblings followed her on the Charlotte Jane, one of the First Four Ships of organised settlement of Canterbury. With his brother Frederick, he had a large farm just south of Christchurch, and the suburb of Somerfield continues to use their farm's name. The brothers were spirit merchants in the city.

Bishop was elected onto the town and later city council eight times between 1863 and 1873. In 1866, he served as chairman of the town council during one of the most difficult years the council has ever faced. A ratepayers' revolt nearly bankrupted the council, and many staff had to be laid off, and basic services discontinued. In December 1872, he was elected by his fellow city councillors as mayor for the coming year. Bishop later acted as returning officer for some of Christchurch City Council's elections. He was involved with many organisations in Christchurch's early history, often in a leading role as chairman, secretary, or treasurer. Bishop died at his home in Cranmer Square in 1887 having never been married, and he is buried in a family grave in Barbadoes Street Cemetery.

Bishop was born at Somerfield House in Maidstone, Kent, England in 1811. His parents were Argyles (born 1764) and Mary Ann Bishop (née Brenchley, 12 July 1781 – 1849). He received his early education from the curate of Sittingbourne. The family then moved to Bruges in Belgium, where he attended the Athenée Royale. He finished his education in Dunkirk in France, not far from the Belgium border. From there, he was sent to London for work and spent 21 years in employment as a distiller for Swaine and Co.