Thomas Russell ( – 2 September 1904) was a lawyer, politician, businessman and entrepreneur in 19th-century

New Zealand New Zealand ( mi, Aotearoa ) is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and over 700 smaller islands. It is the sixth-largest island count ...

. Russell was one of the first two New Zealand-trained lawyers admitted to the bar. He was the founder of a number of major New Zealand-based companies including the

Bank of New Zealand Bank of New Zealand (BNZ) is one of New Zealand's Big Four (banking), big four banks and has been operating in the country since the first office was opened in Auckland in October 1861 followed shortly after by the first branch in Dunedin in D ...

and the New Zealand Insurance Co. He served as Minister of Colonial Defence during the

New Zealand Wars The New Zealand Wars took place from 1845 to 1872 between the New Zealand colonial government and allied Māori on one side and Māori and Māori-allied settlers on the other. They were previously commonly referred to as the Land Wars or the M ...

Early life

Russell was born in

County Cork County Cork ( ga, Contae Chorcaí) is the largest and the southernmost county of Ireland, named after the city of Cork, the state's second-largest city. It is in the province of Munster and the Southern Region. Its largest market towns are ...

, Ireland, probably in 1830. His parents were Thomas Flower Russell (c. 1808-1873) and Mary Roberts (c. 1811-1847). The family emigrated to Australia as steerage passengers in 1833, and settled in

Maitland Maitland is an English and Scottish surname. It arrived in Britain after the Norman conquest of 1066. There are two theories about its source. It is either a nickname reference to "bad temper/disposition" (Old French, ''Maltalent''; Anglo Norm ...

New South Wales ) , nickname = , image_map = New South Wales in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of New South Wales in AustraliaCoordinates: , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = Australia , established_title = Before federation , es ...

, where his father farmed. In 1840 the family moved on to New Zealand, living in Kororakea at first, then

Auckland Auckland (pronounced ) ( mi, Tāmaki Makaurau) is a large metropolitan city in the North Island of New Zealand. The List of New Zealand urban areas by population, most populous urban area in the country and the List of cities in Oceania by po ...

where his father worked as a builder. From 1844 Thomas Russell was articled to the lawyer Thomas Outhwaite and on 4 November 1851 was admitted as a solicitor on the roll of the Supreme Court of New Zealand. He became Outhwaite's partner and later took over his practice. On 18 July 1854, Russell married Emeline Vercoe, third daughter of Henry Vercoe , at Tautauroa, near Otahuhu.

Politics

Russell was elected as MP for Auckland City East in 1861, holding the electorate until his retirement from politics in 1866. He became a cabinet minister under

Alfred Domett Alfred Domett (20 May 18112 November 1887) was the fourth premier of New Zealand, a close friend of the poet Robert Browning and author of the epic poem ''Ranolf and Amohia, a South Sea Day Dream''. Born in England, he emigrated to New Zealand ...

in August 1862, and was Minister of Defence in the administration led by

Frederick Whitaker Sir Frederick Whitaker (23 April 1812 – 4 December 1891) was an English-born New Zealand politician who served twice as the premier of New Zealand and six times as Attorney-General. Early life Whitaker was born at the Deanery Manor House, ...

and William Fox in 1863–1864. During this time the New Zealand Settlements Act (1863) was passed, facilitating the confiscation of Māori-owned land. Russell was appointed a

Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George The Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George is a British order of chivalry founded on 28 April 1818 by George IV, George IV, Prince of Wales, while he was acting as prince regent for his father, George III, King George III. ...

in 1877.

After politics

In 1866 he bought the Pah farm in present-day Hillsborough. In January 1872,

Cyrus Haley Cyrus Haley (22 September 1832 – 4 October 1875) was a New Zealand arsonist. He was born in Leeds, Yorkshire, England on 22 September 1832 and migrated to Auckland Auckland (pronounced ) ( mi, Tāmaki Makaurau) is a large metropolitan ...

, who had a grudge against Russell, attacked the home (later replaced by the

Pah Homestead The Pah Homestead is a historic home located in the suburb of Hillsborough in Auckland, New Zealand. It is owned by the Auckland Council, and is currently used as an art gallery, housing the James Wallace Art Trust's collection of New Zealand ar ...

), firing shots into each of the bedrooms. No-one was hurt and Haley was later caught and convicted of attempted murder. In 1997, Russell was posthumously inducted into the

New Zealand Business Hall of Fame The New Zealand Business Hall of Fame is a figurative hall of fame dedicated to New Zealanders who have made a significant contribution to the economic and social development of New Zealand. The hall was established in 1994 by the Young Enterpri ...

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Russell, Thomas 1830s births 1904 deaths New Zealand businesspeople Members of the New Zealand House of Representatives People of the New Zealand Wars 19th-century New Zealand lawyers Members of the Cabinet of New Zealand New Zealand Companions of the Order of St Michael and St George Irish emigrants to New Zealand (before 1923) New Zealand MPs for Auckland electorates People from County Cork 19th-century New Zealand politicians