Arthur Guinness (New Zealand politician)
Sir Arthur Robert Guinness (11 January 1846 – 10 June 1913) was a New Zealand politician, and Speaker of the House of Representatives.
Sir Arthur Guinness | |
---|---|
![]() Arthur Guinness in the 1900s | |
7th Speaker of the House of Representatives | |
In office 1903 – 10 June 1913 | |
Prime Minister | Richard Seddon |
Preceded by | Maurice O'Rorke |
Succeeded by | Frederic Lang |
Member of the New Zealand Parliament for Grey (previously Greymouth) | |
In office 1884 – 10 June 1913 | |
Succeeded by | Paddy Webb |
Personal details | |
Born | Calcutta, India | 11 January 1846
Died | 10 June 1913 67) | (aged
Political party | Liberal |
Father | Frank Guinness |
Personal information
He was born in Calcutta, India, son of Frank Guinness, who arrived at Lyttelton by the ship Tory in August 1852.[1] He was educated at Christ's College, Christchurch 1854–1859 (being no. 31 on the list).[2] He received his legal education from Edward Harston and then from Garrick and Cowlishaw,[3] before being admitted to the bar in 1867.[4] He then practised as a barrister and solicitor in Greymouth,[4] where he served on the Westland Provincial Council from 1874 to 1876,[5] and was then a member of the Grey County Council from 1876 to 1890, including nine as its chair.[4]
Member of Parliament
Years | Term | Electorate | Party | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1884–1887 | 9th | Greymouth | Independent | ||
1887–1890 | 10th | Greymouth | Independent | ||
1890–1893 | 11th | Grey | Liberal | ||
1893–1896 | 12th | Grey | Liberal | ||
1896–1899 | 13th | Grey | Liberal | ||
1899–1902 | 14th | Grey | Liberal | ||
1902–1905 | 15th | Grey | Liberal | ||
1905–1908 | 16th | Grey | Liberal | ||
1908–1911 | 17th | Grey | Liberal | ||
1911–1913 | 18th | Grey | Liberal |
Guinness first stood for two-member Grey Valley in the 1876 election and out of the four candidates, he came last.[6] In his second attempt in 1884, he defeated the incumbent, Joseph Petrie, in the single-member electorate that was by now called Greymouth.[4] He remained a member of the House of Representatives for Greymouth until 1890, and then represented the Grey electorate until his death in 1913. He belonged to the Liberal Party.[7]
He was Chairman of Committees from 1893 to 1902,[8] then the 7th Speaker of the House of Representatives from 1903 until his death in 1913.[9] Upon the death of William Steward on 30 October 1912, he became Father of the House.[10] When he died, his replacement from the Grey by-election was Paddy Webb, who was elected on the second ballot with Liberal support.[11]
Family
![](../I/Arms_of_Guinness.svg.png.webp)
grandfather Hosea Guinness in 1814
In 1875, Guinness married Elisabeth Westbrook, daughter of Mr James Westbrook of Launceston.[1] He was knighted in the 1911 Coronation Honours.[7] Guinness died on 10 June 1913 and is buried at Greymouth Cemetery.[12]
He was a great-grandson of his namesake the Dublin brewer Arthur Guinness (1725–1803).
Notes
- Cyclopedia Company Limited (1897). "Mr. Arthur Robert Guinness". The Cyclopedia of New Zealand : Wellington Provincial District. Wellington: The Cyclopedia of New Zealand. p. 105. Retrieved 17 July 2012.
- The School list of Christ's College, 1850 to 1995 (9th ed.). Christchurch, [N.Z.]: Christ’s College Old Boys' Association. 1997.
- Scholefield 1940, p. 179.
- Scholefield 1940, pp. 335f.
- Scholefield 1950, p. 244.
- "Grey Valley Election". Grey River Argus. Vol. XXI, no. 2321. 18 January 1876. p. 2. Retrieved 4 March 2014.
- Wilson 1985, p. 201.
- Wilson 1985, p. 252.
- Wilson 1985, p. 250.
- "The Late Sir Arthur Guinness". Colonist. Vol. LV, no. 13752. 18 June 1913. p. 1. Retrieved 18 July 2012.
- Wilson 1985, p. 244.
- "The Late Sir A. R. Guinness". Grey River Argus. 13 June 1913. p. 4. Retrieved 25 August 2014.
References
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- Who's who in New Zealand and the western Pacific 1908, Wellington, [N.Z.]: Gordon & Gotch, 1908
- Kitchingman, Frederick A. (1965), "Guinness and his days", Greymouth Evening Star, Greymouth, [N.Z.]
- Scholefield, Guy, ed. (1940). A Dictionary of New Zealand Biography : A–L (PDF). Vol. I. Wellington: Department of Internal Affairs. Retrieved 6 October 2013.
- Scholefield, Guy (1950) [First published in 1913]. New Zealand Parliamentary Record, 1840–1949 (3rd ed.). Wellington: Govt. Printer.
- Wilson, James Oakley (1985) [First published in 1913]. New Zealand Parliamentary Record, 1840–1984 (4th ed.). Wellington: V.R. Ward, Govt. Printer. OCLC 154283103.