Edward Wakefield
Who was Edward Wakefield?
New Zealand politician (1845-1924)
Biographical data adapted from Wikipedia’s article on Edward Wakefield (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Biography
Felix Edward Wakefield was born on May 22, 1845, in Launceston, Tasmania. He was the son of Felix Wakefield, a younger brother of Edward Gibbon Wakefield. Raised in New Zealand, he was educated in France and at King's College London, thanks to opportunities stemming from his family's strong colonial ties. His influential family background provided him with the social and intellectual grounding for a public life.
Before entering politics, Wakefield worked as a journalist and in public service, notably as the second Cabinet Secretary for the Fox Ministry in 1869. He married Agnes Mildred Hall on July 15, 1874, in Christchurch. She was the daughter of George Williamson Hall, and her uncle was the notable politician John Hall. Felix and Agnes had four children: Edward Howard St George Wakefield (born 1875), Gerald Seymour Wakefield (born 1877), Grace Josephine Wakefield (born 1879), and Mildred Wakefield (born 1881).
Wakefield's political career started when he was elected Member of Parliament for Geraldine in 1875, a position he held until 1881. After a short break, he returned to Parliament in 1884 by winning a by-election for the Selwyn seat against John McLachlan and was unopposed in the general election five months later. His key role came as the Colonial Secretary during the brief 1884 ministry of Harry Atkinson, from August 28 to September 3. He was known as an excellent parliamentary debater, admired for his wit and argument skills, although many believed he didn't quite reach his full potential. He left his Selwyn seat in 1887.
After leaving politics, Wakefield focused on writing. In 1889, he published "New Zealand after Fifty Years," sharing his thoughts on the colony's progress. He later moved to the United States and then to London. In his later years, he lost his sight and was honored as a brother of the Charterhouse, a historic almshouse in London, where he spent his final years. He passed away there on August 10, 1924.
Before Fame
Edward Wakefield came from a family well-known for British colonization efforts. His great-uncle, Edward Gibbon Wakefield, developed colonization theories that helped establish several settlements in Australasia. Growing up in New Zealand, Edward had a unique perspective on colonial society. He was partly educated in France and at King's College, London, which gave him a broader education than most of his peers.
Before becoming well-known to the public, he worked as a journalist. This job honed his ability to argue and gave him a voice in the public sphere. He then entered the civil service and became the Cabinet Secretary for the Fox Ministry in 1869, getting firsthand experience with New Zealand's government during a key period in its political history. His experiences in journalism, government, and his family background led to his parliamentary career starting in 1875.
Key Achievements
- Served as Member of Parliament for Geraldine from 1875 to 1881 and for Selwyn from 1884 to 1887
- Appointed Colonial Secretary in Harry Atkinson's 1884 ministry
- Acted as Cabinet Secretary for the Fox Ministry in 1869, one of the earliest holders of that administrative role
- Published New Zealand after Fifty Years (1889), a substantive historical and reflective account of the colony's development
- Recognised as one of the foremost parliamentary debaters of his era in New Zealand, noted for wit and argumentative skill
Did You Know?
- 01.Wakefield served as Colonial Secretary for only six days, from 28 August to 3 September 1884, making his ministerial tenure one of the briefest in New Zealand history.
- 02.His wife Agnes was the niece of Sir John Hall, who served as Premier of New Zealand and was a leading figure in the movement that granted women the right to vote in 1893.
- 03.Wakefield won the Selwyn by-election in 1884 and then, just five months later, was returned unopposed in the general election for the same seat.
- 04.He was admitted as a brother of the Charterhouse in London in his final years, an institution originally founded in 1611 that has long provided shelter for men of reduced means with records of distinguished service.
- 05.His book New Zealand after Fifty Years, published in 1889, offered a retrospective account of colonial development at a time when New Zealand was approaching full responsible government maturity.