Robert Hart (politician)

Robert Hart (1814 – 16 September 1894) was a 19th-century New Zealand politician.

For the British diplomat, see Sir Robert Hart, 1st Baronet.

Robert Hart
Member of the 1st New Zealand Parliament
for City of Wellington
In office
1854–1855
Prime MinisterJames FitzGerald (head of the Executive Council)
Preceded byn/a
Succeeded byIsaac Featherston
William Fitzherbert
Personal details
Born1814
Died1894
RelationsGeorge Hart (brother)
Donald McLean (brother-in-law)
OccupationLawyer

Biography
New Zealand Parliament
Years Term Electorate Party
1853–1855 1st City of Wellington Independent

Hart was also baptised on 4 April 1815. He and his brother George left London in April 1843 on board the Mary, arriving in Wellington on 9 August 1843.[1][2]

He was a well-known solicitor and barrister in Wellington, first with the firm Messrs. Holroyd and Hart, then for many years as the principal member of the firm Messrs Hart and Buckley.[3]

He was elected in 1853 to the 1st New Zealand Parliament, representing the City of Wellington electorate, but did not serve in any further Parliaments.[4] In the 1855 general election, five people contested the City of Wellington electorate. Whilst the results were close, Hart came last and was not returned.[5] He contested 27 December 1856 by-election against Samuel Revans in the Hutt electorate and gained 24 votes against 96 for Revans.[6]

In 1859, he was appointed Judge of the District Courts of Wellington, Hawke's Bay and Wanganui.[7] He was appointed to the Legislative Council on 9 July 1872, and remained a member until his death in 1894.[4]

He married Catherine McLean on 10 January 1867 at St. Andrew's Church, Wellington. Catherine was the sister of Donald McLean, the Superintendent of Hawke's Bay Province.[8] His brother was the politician George Hart.[9]

References
Notes
  1. Shipping Intelligence: Arrived, New Zealand and Wellington Spectator, Volume IV, Issue 271, 12 August 1843, page 2.
  2. Custom House: Imports, New Zealand and Wellington Spectator, Volume IV, Issue 274, 23 August 1843, page 2.
  3. "Obituary: Death of the Hon Robert Hart", in Taranaki Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 10110, 17 September 1894, Page 2.
  4. Scholefield 1950, p. 112.
  5. "The New Zealander". Vol. 11, no. 1010. 22 December 1855. p. 3. Retrieved 29 June 2020.
  6. "THE SOUTHERN CROSS. Tuesday, December 30, 1856". Daily Southern Cross. Vol. XIII, no. 992. 30 December 1856. p. 2. Retrieved 26 June 2010.
  7. "New Zealand Gazette", in Daily Southern Cross, Volume XVI, Issue 1240, 29 July 1859, Page 5.
  8. "Marriages", in Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXIII, Issue 2962, 22 January 1867, Page 3.
  9. "Obituary". The Star. No. 5342. 21 August 1895. p. 4. Retrieved 2 May 2013.
Sources
  • Scholefield, Guy (1950) [First ed. published 1913]. New Zealand Parliamentary Record, 1840–1949 (3rd ed.). Wellington: Govt. Printer.


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