Richard Seddon
|
The Right Honourable Richard John Seddon |
|
|---|---|
Rt. Hon. Richard Seddon in 1905.
|
|
| 15th Prime Minister of New Zealand | |
|
In office 27 April 1893 – 10 June 1906 |
|
| Monarch |
Victoria Edward VII |
| Governor |
David Boyle Uchter Knox William Plunket |
| Preceded by | John Ballance |
| Succeeded by | William Hall-Jones |
| Constituency | Westland |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
22 June 1845 Eccleston, Lancashire, England |
| Died | 10 June 1906 (aged 60) At sea |
| Political party |
Independent (1879–91) Liberal (1891–1906) |
| Spouse(s) | Louisa Jane Spotswood (m. 1869) |
| Children | 9, including Tom Seddon and Elizabeth Gilmer |
| Signature |  |
Richard John Seddon PC (22 June 1845 – 10 June 1906) is to date the longest-serving Prime Minister of New Zealand. He is regarded as one of New Zealand's greatest political leaders. Sometimes derisively known as King Dick for his autocratic style, Seddon dominated the Liberal government for thirteen years, achieving many social and economic changes.
Seddon was born in Eccleston near St Helens, Lancashire, England in 1845. His father Thomas Seddon (born 1817) was a school headmaster, and his mother Jane Lindsay was a teacher. They married on 8 February 1842 at Christ Church, Eccleston. Their children were:
Despite this background, Seddon did not perform well at school, and was described as unruly. Despite his parents' attempt to give him a classical education, Seddon developed an interest in engineering, but was removed from school at age 12. After working on his grandfather Richard's farm at Barrow Nook Hall for two years, Seddon was an apprentice at Daglish's Foundry in St Helens. He later worked at Vauxhall foundry in Liverpool, where he attained a Board of Trade Certificate as a mechanical engineer.
On 15 June 1862, at the age of 16, Seddon decided to emigrate to Australia, on the SS Great Britain. He later provided his reasoning: "A restlessness to get away to see new, broad lands seized me: My work was irksome. I felt cramped." He entered the railway workshops at Melbourne, Victoria. He was caught by the gold fever and went to Bendigo, where he spent some time in the diggings. He did not meet with any great success. In either 1865 or 1866, he became engaged to Louisa Jane Spotswood, but her family would not permit marriage until Seddon was more financially secure.
...
Wikipedia