Henry Seymour (New Zealand politician)

Henry Seymour (6 December 1796 – 31 March 1883) was one of the earliest settlers in Nelson, New Zealand, where he was a trader and land speculator. He was a member of the Legislative Council of New Munster Province from 1849, and was appointed to the new Legislative Council in 1853 until his resignation in 1860. He returned to England and died in Worcestershire.

Seymour first comes to notice as Steward of the Public Rooms in Teignmouth (new public rooms had been opened there in 1826, replacing an earlier establishment of 1796), where he organized events such as regattas and Christmas balls. Evidently building on this experience, in 1830 he became the first lessee of the Pittville Pump Room in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England, living in a house in nearby Prestbury. He was secretary of the Cheltenham Horticultural Society, and when he emigrated to New Zealand, he took acorns with him. At Pittville, he was acquainted with the architect and future New Zealand public figure Robert Stokes (politician), who tried to get Seymour a passage at the same time he himself emigrated in 1839, describing him as 'a most active person and of great energy'. In the event, Seymour came to Nelson in April 1842 on board the Martha Ridgway, accompanied by his wife Elizabeth and daughter Fanny. Alfred Fell had arrived two months before him, and together they set themselves up as merchants and became very rich. Seymour and Fell were active as land agents, and both also speculated with land themselves. They owned the land on which Blenheim was founded, and Seymour Square is officially named for Henry Seymour, although there are some who claim that it is named for the unrelated Arthur Seymour.

The Seymours left for England in late 1850, and returned with the Maori on Christmas Day in 1851. Fell and Seymour were business partners until 1857, when Seymour decided to return to England permanently as his wife was suffering from poor health. Seymour sold his business interests to Nathaniel Edwards. The Seymours left for England in April 1857 and locals of all classes signed a testimonial, expressing their appreciation of his contributions to society. His house, Prestbury Cottage, was put up for sale in February 1858 and was still on the market the following January.

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