William John Warburton Hamilton

William John Warburton Hamilton (April 1825 – 6 December 1883), who generally signed as J. W. Hamilton, was an administrator, explorer, and politician in New Zealand.

Hamilton was born in 1825 at Little Chart, Kent, England. His father was Rev John Vesey Hamilton, and Richard Vesey Hamilton was his younger brother. He was educated in England, Paris, Brussels, and at Harrow School. He emigrated aged 18 on the Bangalore with Sydney in Australia as his destination, but he met Robert FitzRoy on the journey and became his private secretary; FitzRoy was travelling to take up the role of Governor of New Zealand.

Hamilton served for FitzRoy until the latter was recalled, and then worked under the next governor, George Grey. Hamilton returned to England in 1846. He returned on the HMS Acheron in 1848 as a survey officer. From inland explorations, geographic features were named for him, including Hamilton Plains (now known as Hanmer Plain) on the Waiau River, and the nearby Mount Hamilton. In 1849, he attempted the first known ascent of Mount Tapuaenuku in the Kaikoura Ranges. He was with Edward John Eyre, Lieutenant-Governor of New Munster, and seven Māori. They came within a short distance of the summit but were forced to turn back.

In 1850, Governor Grey appointed Hamilton resident magistrate for Wanganui, which was a significant responsibility for a person aged 25.

...
Wikipedia