John Nathaniel Wilson (1822 – 14 November 1895) was a New Zealand politician.

Legal career

Wilson was active as a barrister and solicitor in England. He came to New Zealand in 1859 and established a legal practice that year in

Napier Napier may refer to: People * Napier (surname), including a list of people with that name * Napier baronets, five baronetcies and lists of the title holders Given name * Napier Shaw (1854–1945), British meteorologist * Napier Waller (1893–19 ...

. He was appointed Crown Prosecutor for the Hawke's Bay in late 1859. He resigned as provincial solicitor in June 1869 and was again appointed Crown Prosecutor for the Hawke's Bay in August 1870. In 1874, he took

Arthur Cotterill Arthur James Cotterill (22 January 1848 – 3 September 1902) was a New Zealand cricketer and lawyer. Early life and career Arthur Cotterill was born in 1848 in Colney, Norfolk, England. He was the eldest of the 17 children of the Rev. George C ...

as a partner and the practice was then known as Wilson and Cotterill. Wilson retired from the firm in January 1891.

Legislative Council

Wilson was appointed to the

New Zealand Legislative Council The New Zealand Legislative Council was the upper house of the General Assembly of New Zealand between 1853 and 1951. An earlier arrangement of legislative councils for the colony and provinces existed from 1841 when New Zealand became a co ...

on 23 November 1877 by

George Grey Sir George Grey, KCB (14 April 1812 – 19 September 1898) was a British soldier, explorer, colonial administrator and writer. He served in a succession of governing positions: Governor of South Australia, twice Governor of New Zealand, Go ...

in order to strengthen the Government in that Chamber. This caused considerable controversy as the appointment happened during a time that a vote of confidence was pending. At first the

governor A governor is an administrative leader and head of a polity or political region, ranking under the head of state and in some cases, such as governors-general, as the head of state's official representative. Depending on the type of political ...

Lord Normanby Marquess of Normanby is a title that has been created twice, once in the Peerage of England and once in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. The first creation came in 1694 in the Peerage of England in favour of John Sheffield, 3rd Earl of M ...

, refused to make the appointment (a decision without precedent in New Zealand), but ultimately did so. It was thought that Wilson would replace

George Stoddart Whitmore Sir George Stoddart Whitmore (30 May 1829 – 16 March 1903) was a notable New Zealand soldier, military leader, runholder and politician. Early life Whitmore was born on 30 May 1829 to a lieutenant in the British Army, stationed in Malta ...

as Colonial Secretary, or replace

Robert Stout Sir Robert Stout (28 September 1844 – 19 July 1930) was a New Zealand politician who was the 13th premier of New Zealand on two occasions in the late 19th century, and later Chief Justice of New Zealand. He was the only person to hold both ...

Attorney-General In most common law jurisdictions, the attorney general or attorney-general (sometimes abbreviated AG or Atty.-Gen) is the main legal advisor to the government. The plural is attorneys general. In some jurisdictions, attorneys general also have exec ...

, but this did not happen. He was a member of the Grey Ministry as a member of the Executive Council without portfolio from 2 November 1878 to 8 October 1879. He was a supporter of the Liberal party in the Upper House, and took a deep interest in the reforms introduced by that party. He resigned from the Legislative Council on 22 June 1893 and retired to England.

Death

Wilson died at

Weybridge Weybridge () is a town in the Borough of Elmbridge in Surrey, England, around southwest of central London. The settlement is recorded as ''Waigebrugge'' and ''Weibrugge'' in the 7th century and the name derives from a crossing point of the ...

, Surrey, on 14 November 1895, from throat cancer.

Notes

References

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: * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Wilson, John Nathaniel Members of the New Zealand Legislative Council 1822 births 1895 deaths Deaths from throat cancer People from Napier, New Zealand 19th-century New Zealand lawyers