Harry Atkinson
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The Honourable Sir Harry Atkinson KCMG |
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|---|---|
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| 10th Premier of New Zealand | |
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In office 1 September 1876 – 13 October 1877 |
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| Monarch | Victoria |
| Governor |
George Phipps William Jervois William Onslow |
| Preceded by | Julius Vogel |
| Succeeded by | Sir George Grey |
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In office 25 September 1883 – 16 August 1884 |
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| Preceded by | Frederick Whitaker |
| Succeeded by | Robert Stout |
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In office 28 August 1884 – 3 September 1884 |
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| Preceded by | Robert Stout |
| Succeeded by | Robert Stout |
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In office 8 October 1887 – 24 January 1891 |
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| Preceded by | Robert Stout |
| Succeeded by | John Ballance |
| 7th Speaker of the Legislative Council | |
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In office 23 January 1891 – 28 June 1892 |
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| Preceded by | George Waterhouse |
| Succeeded by | Henry Miller |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Harry Albert Atkinson 1 November 1831 Broxton, Cheshire, England |
| Died | 28 June 1892 (aged 60) Wellington, New Zealand |
| Political party | None |
| Spouse(s) |
Amelia Jane Skinner (m. 1856; d. 1865) Ann Elizabeth Smith (m. 1867) |
| Relations |
Arthur Samuel Atkinson (brother) Torchy Atkinson (grandson) Monica Brewster (granddaughter) William Richmond (brother-in-law) Mary Richmond (niece) Jane Maria Atkinson (sister-in-law) Arthur Richmond Atkinson (nephew) |
| Children | 7 |
| Religion | Anglican |
| Signature |  |
Sir Harry Albert Atkinson KCMG (1 November 1831 – 28 June 1892) served as the tenth Premier of New Zealand on four separate occasions in the late 19th century, and was Colonial Treasurer for a total of ten years. He was responsible for guiding the country during a time of economic depression, and was known as a cautious and prudent manager of government finances, though distrusted for some radical policies such as his 1882 National Insurance (welfare) scheme and leasehold land schemes. He also participated in the formation of voluntary military units to fight in the New Zealand Wars, and was noted for his strong belief in the need for seizure of Māori land.
Atkinson, born in 1831 in the English village of Broxton, Cheshire, received his education in England, but chose at the age of 22 to follow his elder brother William to New Zealand. He was accompanied by his brother Arthur and by members of the Richmond family. On arriving in New Zealand, Harry and Arthur bought farmland in Taranaki, as did the Richmonds. James and William Richmond also later entered politics. Atkinson's correspondence shows that he was highly satisfied with his decision to move to New Zealand, seeing it as an opportunity to prosper. He named his small farmhouse Hurworth after a village in England where he had lived as a boy, although—as his father worked as an itinerant builder and architect—the family did not settle anywhere.
Atkinson first became involved in politics, as a member of the Taranaki provincial council. He represented the Grey and Bell electorate from 1857 to 1865, and again from 1873 to 1874. He was a member of the Executive Council from 1868 (no end year given in the source) and again in 1874 (May to October). He was Deputy Superintendent in 1861–1862 to Charles Brown, and again in 1863.
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