Frederick Whitaker
Frederick Whitaker was a notable figure in the early political and legal landscape of New Zealand, born in England on April 23, 1812. After studying law and being admitted to the bar in 1839, he emigrated to Australia and then to New Zealand, where he initially practiced law and engaged in land speculation. As tensions arose between the Māori population and European settlers, Whitaker joined the colonial militia and rose to the rank of major. His political career began in the 1840s, leading him to serve in various capacities, including as a member of the Legislative Council and twice as attorney general.
Whitaker's tenure as premier began in 1863, during which he implemented policies that favored settler land acquisition at the expense of Māori land rights, a controversial aspect of his legacy. Throughout his life, he was also active in various business ventures, contributing to the establishment of companies related to gas, mining, and finance. He returned to politics after a brief hiatus, ultimately serving in the Legislative Council until his retirement in 1891, shortly before his death. Whitaker's contributions to New Zealand's governance and his complex legacy regarding Māori land rights remain significant in the historical narrative of the country.
Frederick Whitaker
Politician, lawyer, and entrepreneur
- Born: April 23, 1812
- Birthplace: Bampton, England
- Died: December 4, 1891
- Place of death: Auckland, New Zealand
Significance: Frederick Whitaker was a politician, lawyer, and entrepreneur who intermingled his business and political careers during New Zealand’s transition from British control to self-government. He served as attorney general under several ministries and held the position of premier (the term then used for prime minister) twice, first in the 1860s and then in the 1880s.
Background
Frederick Whitaker was born on April 23, 1812, in Bampton, Oxfordshire, England. The eldest son of Susanna and Frederick Whitaker, he grew up in Bampton, where his father was a magistrate. Like his father, Whitaker studied law, and in 1839 he was admitted to the bar.
Shortly after, Whitaker emigrated from England and went first to Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, before moving on to New Zealand a few months later. For a brief time he stayed at Kororāreka (later called Russell) in the Bay of Islands, near Okiato. In 1840 New Zealand split from New South Wales and became a separate colony, with Okiato as its seat of government.
Legal and Investment Careers
In Kororāreka, Whitaker practiced law and partnered with a land surveyor for speculation purposes. Once Auckland became the colony’s capital in 1841, he then relocated there. During the Māori-settler conflicts in the mid-1800s, in which the native Māori population attempted to stop further European encroachment in New Zealand, Whitaker served in the colonial militia and achieved the rank of major. In 1848, as well as practicing law, he branched out further to speculate in mining and timber. Over the next decade, he got involved in politics but retained his business and legal activities to varying degrees. At times, he resigned from public office to devote more time to his personal affairs.
In 1861 Whitaker formed a successful legal partnership with Thomas Russell, another lawyer. From the late 1860s and into the 1870s, he deepened his investments in fuel, timber mills, and gold and coal mining. He helped found the Auckland Gas Company and served as its director for three decades. In addition to supporting the founding of, and acquiring several shares of, the Bank of New Zealand, he invested in the Thames Gas Company, the Thames Goldmining Company, and the Thames Investment Company. He served as director of the latter two. Furthermore, he served on the board of other prominent companies, including the New Zealand and River Plate Land Mortgage Company and the Colonial Sugar Refining Company (later the New Zealand Sugar Company).
Public Service and Politics
Whitaker entered public service in 1842 when he was appointed a county judge in Auckland. He served for two years and did not accept another judicial post when the county court system was replaced by the Court of Requests so that he could devote his time to his business. In 1845 he was selected to join the Legislative Council and served until the next year.
England passed the New Zealand Constitution Act, which set up New Zealand’s new Legislative Council, or upper house of parliament, in 1852. Whitaker was elected to the new Legislative Council in 1853 and attended the convening of the first General Assembly in 1854. He remained in the Council—of which he was speaker from 1855 into 1856—until his resignation in 1864; in 1879 he returned to the Council and held his seat until 1891. After Whitaker also obtained the office of attorney general in 1855, he would go on to serve as attorney general in a number of other governments. He was attorney general in Henry Sewell’s ministry, which lasted for part of May 1856, and again in Edward William Stafford’s ministry, from 1856 to 1861.
Whitaker became premier, the colonial equivalent to prime minister, in October 1863, after Alfred Domett’s government fell due to internal strife. He took the post of attorney general for himself and appointed his business partner, Russell, the minister of colonial defense. Together, they crafted a policy of promoting settler development by confiscating Māori land and advocated for the military protection of settlements from Māoris considered rebel threats. Whitaker’s views caused conflict with Governor George Grey, and he resigned from the premiership and Legislative Council on November 24, 1864. From 1865 to 1867, Whitaker was the superintendent of Auckland and the member of the House of Representatives for Parnell. A leader of the Auckland group in the House, he supported installing a lieutenant governor in Auckland.
After a nine-year absence to deal with his businesses, Whitaker resumed his political activities in 1876 when he was elected to the House as the member for Waikato. He became the attorney general in Harry Atkinson’s government, which lasted until October 1877. He also served as commissioner of telegraphs and postmaster general. After he failed to gain reelection to the House in 1879, he was appointed to the Legislative Council. He then served as the attorney general in John Hall’s government until Hall resigned in April 1882.
Whitaker then became premier for a second term on April 21, 1882. His premiership lasted until September 25, 1883, when he retired to focus on his business affairs.
After Atkinson gained another term as premier in 1887, Whitaker again served as his attorney general, until early 1891. Retiring from politics, he resumed his legal practice and died in his Auckland office on December 4, 1891.
Impact
A skilled lawyer, Whitaker made numerous contributions to the formation of New Zealand’s early government, particularly through drafting bills in plain language. However, his efforts to confiscate Māori land to advance settlers’ development interests dominates his legacy.
Personal Life
Whitaker and Jane Augusta Griffith, the stepdaughter of colonial treasurer Alexander Shepherd, married in March 1843. They had eight children and made their home in Auckland.
Bibliography
Harris, Charles A. “Whitaker, Sir Frederick.” Dictionary of National Biography, edited by Sidney Lee, vol. 61, Smith, Elder, & Co., 1900, pp. 15–16.
“The Hon. Sir Frederick Whitaker.” The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Wellington Provincial District]. The Cyclopedia Company, 1897. New Zealand Electronic Text Collection, Victoria University of Wellington, nzetc.victoria.ac.nz/tm/scholarly/tei-Cyc01Cycl-t1-body-d3-d8-d6.html. Accessed 15 May 2020.
McLean, Gavin. “Frederick Whitaker.” New Zealand History, New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage, 8 Nov. 2017, nzhistory.govt.nz/people/frederick-whitaker. Accessed 6 May 2020.
Stone, R. C. J. “Whitaker, Frederick.” Dictionary of New Zealand Biography, 1990. Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand, teara.govt.nz/en/biographies/1w17/whitaker-frederick. Accessed 6 May 2020.
Stone, Russell. Whitaker and Russell: A Contextual Study of Their Interests and Influence. Waitangi Tribunal, Feb. 2001, forms.justice.govt.nz/search/Documents/WT/wt‗DOC‗93497337/Wai%20215%2C%20L003.pdf. Accessed 6 May 2020.