George Petersen (historian)

George Conrad Petersen (19 June 1900 – 25 October 1978) was a New Zealand lawyer, consul, local politician and historian.

Petersen was born in Mauriceville West, Wairarapa, New Zealand in 1900. He received his education at Mauriceville West School and Masterton District High School. He trained as a barrister and solicitor under Edward Orr Hurley and was admitted in 1924.

He was a city councillor for Palmerston North. He edited four editions of the Who's Who in New Zealand. Of Danish parentage, he was active his whole life for Danish interests. As a member of the Danish Society in Palmerston North, he raised money for the Danish underground, and he was awarded the King Christian X's Liberty Medal in 1946 for his actions. From 1948, he acted as vice-consul for Denmark, and was appointed consul in 1966. He was the New Zealand liaison person for the second Galathea expedition. For this work, he was awarded the Galathea Medal of Denmark in 1956, and for his overall contribution to Denmark was made Knight of the Order of the Dannebrog in 1958, and was promoted to Knight 1st Class in 1968. He was awarded an honorary Doctor of Letters by Massey University in 1964; this was only the second honorary doctorate awarded by this university.

Petersen married his former classmate Elizabeth "Stella" Osberta Cairns on 27 December 1926, and they had one son and two daughters. During school, Petersen had boarded with the Cairns family. His first wife died in 1963 and on 4 September 1965, he married her sister, Coyla Samuella May Foote. His second wife died in 1974, and Petersen died at Palmerston North on 25 October 1978. His first wife and Petersen are buried in a family grave at Kelvin Grove Cemetery in Palmerston North; his second wife was cremated.

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