Thomas Wilford

The Honourable Sir Thomas Wilford KCMG KC
Thomas Wilford in 1928
8th Leader of the Opposition
In office 8 September 1920 – 13 August 1925
Preceded by	William MacDonald
Succeeded by	George Forbes
Constituency	Hutt
18th Mayor of Wellington
In office 1910–1911
Preceded by	Alfred Newman
Succeeded by	David McLaren
Personal details
Born	(1870-06-20)20 June 1870 Lower Hutt, New Zealand
Died	22 June 1939(1939-06-22) (aged 69) Wellington, New Zealand
Political party	Liberal
Spouse(s)	Georgia Constance McLean (m. 1892)
Relations	Thomas Mason (grandfather) George McLean (father-in-law)

Sir Thomas Mason Wilford KCMG KC (20 June 1870 – 22 June 1939) was a New Zealand politician. He held the seats of Wellington Suburbs then Hutt continuously for thirty years, from 1899 to 1929. Wilford was leader of the New Zealand Liberal Party, and Leader of the Opposition from 1920 to 1925.

Wilford was born in Lower Hutt in 1870. His parents were the surgeon John George Frederick Wilford and his wife, Elizabeth Catherine Mason. His grandfather on his mother's side was Thomas Mason. Wilford was a keen sportsman and athlete in his youth and competed in several sports including rugby, tennis and boxing. He obtained his education at Wellington College in the Wellington suburb of Mount Victoria, followed by Christ's College in Christchurch. He passed his examinations as a lawyer at age 18, but could not be admitted to the bar until he had reached the legal age of 21.

He married Georgia Constance McLean, daughter of George McLean, on 17 February 1892 at Dunedin. They had one son and one daughter.

Wilford was elected to the Wellington Suburbs electorate in the 1896 general election, but the result was declared void after an election petition on the grounds of corrupt and illegal practices as Wilford had exceeded the £200 election spending limit which had only recently been introduced.Charles Wilson was elected MP for that electorate following a by-election on 23 April 1897.