The following lists events that happened during 1859 in New Zealand.

Incumbents

Regal and viceregal

* Head of State — Queen Victoria * Governor — Colonel Thomas Gore Browne

Government and law

Speaker of the House The speaker of a deliberative assembly, especially a legislative body, is its presiding officer, or the chair. The title was first used in 1377 in England. Usage The title was first recorded in 1377 to describe the role of Thomas de Hunger ...

— Sir Charles Clifford *

Premier Premier is a title for the head of government in central governments, state governments and local governments of some countries. A second in command to a premier is designated as a deputy premier. A premier will normally be a head of governm ...

—

Edward Stafford Edward Stafford may refer to: People * Edward Stafford, 2nd Earl of Wiltshire (1470–1498) *Edward Stafford, 3rd Duke of Buckingham (1478–1521), executed for treason *Edward Stafford, 3rd Baron Stafford (1535–1603) *Sir Edward Stafford (diplo ...

. * Minister of Finance — William Richmond is briefly replaced by Henry Sewell between 25 February and 26 April. * Chief Justice — Hon George Arney

Events

*10 January: Pencarrow Head Lighthouse becomes the first permanent lighthouse in New Zealand. Its first keeper is

Mary Jane Bennett Mary Jane Bennett ( Hebden, 1816 – 6 July 1885) was the first official lighthouse keeper in New Zealand, and the only woman to ever hold the role. Hebden emigrated to New Zealand in 1840 and was soon married to George White Bennett who farmed ...

, the only woman to hold the position. *13 April: ''The New Zealand Advertiser'' starts publishing in Wellington. In 1867 it is incorporated into the ''New Zealand Times'', but it is restored for six months in 1868. *3 October: ''The Auckland Independent'' begins publishing. It barely survives into the following year.

Undated

The first wharf is built at Onehunga.

Births

* 1 January (in England):

John Dumbell John Thomas Dumbell (1859 – 31 December 1936) was a New Zealand rugby union player. A utility, who played as a halfback, wing and forward, he was a member of the first national team in 1884. Early life and family Born in Bacup, Lancashire in ...

, rugby union player. * 18 November (in Scotland):

James Nairn James McLauchlan Nairn (18 November 1859 – 22 February 1904) was a New Zealand painter who (along with G. P. Nerli) strongly influenced New Zealand painting in the late 19th century. He believed in en plein air or painting outdoors. Life and w ...

, painter

Unknown date

* Thomas Field, politician. *

Charles E. Major Charles Edwin Major (1859 – 1 June 1954) was a New Zealand politician of the Liberal Party, from Taranaki. He was a Member of Parliament for Hawera in the 15th and 16th parliaments, from 1902 to 1908, having failed to win election in 18 ...

, politician.

Deaths

* 7 April – John Gray, soldier, politician (born 1801) * 20 April – James Kelly, Australian explorer who was involved in a feud on Otago Peninsula (born 1791) * 30 April –

Henry Despard Major General Henry Despard (October 1783 – 30 April 1859) was a British Army officer of the 17th Regiment of Foot (1799–1838), Staff of Ireland (1838–1842) and 99th Regiment of Foot (1842–1854). He saw action in Third Anglo-Marath ...

, soldier (born 1784) * 20 July – Alexander Shepherd, public servant and second

Colonial Treasurer Colonial or The Colonial may refer to: * Colonial, of, relating to, or characteristic of a colony or colony (biology) Architecture * American colonial architecture * French Colonial * Spanish Colonial architecture Automobiles * Colonial (1920 a ...

(born 1797)

References

External links

{{DEFAULTSORT:1859 in New Zealand