John McLachlan (politician)
| John McLachlan | |
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| Member of the New Zealand Parliament for Ashburton |
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In office 1893–1896 |
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| Preceded by | Edward George Wright |
| Succeeded by | Edward George Wright |
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In office 1899–1908 |
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| Preceded by | Edward George Wright |
| Succeeded by | William Nosworthy |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1840 Ardrossan, Ayrshire, Scotland |
| Died | 11 September 1915 Ashburton, New Zealand |
| Political party | Liberal |
| Religion | Presbyterian |
John McLachlan (1840 – 11 September 1915) was a New Zealand Member of Parliament for Ashburton in the South Island.
McLachlan was born in Ardrossan, Ayrshire, Scotland, in 1840. He learned his father's trade as a plaster. He came to New Zealand in 1863 by the ship Sebastopol and arrived at Lyttelton. After some time spent in looking around the country, he chose land near Lake Ellesmere / Te Waihora and became a farmer.
His brothers, sister and his mother followed him to New Zealand.
McLachlan stood for election in the Selwyn electorate for the Canterbury Provincial Council, but was defeated by Edward Jollie.
McLachlan unsuccessfully contested the Ellesmere electorate in the 1890 election and was beaten by John Hall. He represented the Ashburton electorate in the House of Representatives for twelve years (1893–1896; 1899–1908).
He was a colourful character in Parliament.
"The representative of Ashburton", wrote a newspaper reporter, "is about the wildest looking specimen in the Parliamentary collection. But if he is in the rough to gaze on, he can give 'points' to some more ornamental members in the matter of ability and originality of thought and expression. He is a sturdily built, carelessly dressed man, with a large head, made to look larger by the wild disorder of a huge shock of curly hair. He is a farmer and might have stepped out of his market trap into his place in the House. He is, as a rule, a breezy, happy-go-lucky sort of member with a good sense of humour and a fine stock of anecdotes and a great admiration for and acquaintance with the writings of Robert Burns."
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