John Charles Watts-Russell
|
The Honourable John Charles Watts-Russell JP |
|
|---|---|
| New Zealand Legislative Council | |
|
In office 1854–1855 |
|
|
In office 1858–1868 |
|
| Canterbury Provincial Council | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1825 Ilam Hall, Staffordshire, England |
| Died | 2 April 1875 Christchurch, New Zealand |
| Resting place | St. Peter’s Anglican Church cemetery, Upper Riccarton (43°31′54″S 172°34′12″E / 43.53170°S 172.56990°E) |
| Spouse(s) | Elizabeth Watts-Russell |
| Children | nil |
| Residence | Ilam homestead |
| Profession | politician, |
John Charles Watts-Russell JP (1825 – 2 April 1875) was a 19th-century New Zealand politician, a member of the Canterbury Provincial Council and a member of the Legislative Council. He was supposedly the wealthiest of the early settlers, and his homestead became the centre of entertainment in Christchurch. He was a significant and, together with a business partner, was responsible for building up the Canterbury sheep stock.
Watts-Russell was born in Ilam Hall in Staffordshire, England in 1825, one of nine children and the youngest son of the family. His father was Jesse Watts-Russell (1786–1875), a wealthy landowner and Conservative MP for the rotten borough of Gatton, and his mother was Mary Watts. His father, who was originally called Jesse Russell, took on the new family name of Watts-Russell in March 1817.Ilam in Staffordshire was built by his father. The valley and surrounding hills reminded his father of the Alps, and consequently he had some new cottages built in a Swiss chalet style and rehoused most of the villagers. In 1857 he built a school matching in style and funded its operation, at a time when schooling was not compulsory.
Watts-Russell purchased a commission in the 17th Regiment of Light Dragoons in 1845. While he was stationed in Ireland in 1850, he married Elizabeth Rose Rebecca Bradshaw. They decided to emigrate, and this decision might have been influenced by him wanting to escape the social stigma of having married beneath his social class. He was also a chronic asthmatic and was hoping for improved health from the change in climate. This was at a time when the Canterbury Association was actively selling land in New Zealand. He sold his commission as lieutenant and purchased 500 acres (2.0 km2) of land in the colony.
...
Wikipedia