William Hobson

William Hobson (September 26, 1792 - September 10, 1842), was the first Governor of New Zealand and co-author of the Treaty of Waitangi.

Related Topics:
September 26 - 1792 - September 10 - 1842 - Governor - New Zealand - Treaty of Waitangi

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Hobson was born in Waterford, Ireland and joined the Royal Navy on August 25, 1803. He served in the Napoleonic wars and was later involved in the suppression of piracy in the Caribbean. In December 1834 he obtained a commission from Lord Auckland to the East Indies. His ship was involved in the founding of Williamstown (later Melbourne) and surveyed Port Phillip. In 1837 he sailed to the Bay of Islands in response to a request for help from James Busby, the British Resident in New Zealand, who felt threatened by wars between Maori tribes. He arrived on May 26 and helped to reduce the tensions. On his return to England in 1838 he submitted a report on New Zealand to propose a trading system and a treaty with the Maori to obtain land.

Related Topics:
Waterford - Ireland - Royal Navy - August 25 - 1803 - Napoleonic wars - Piracy in the Caribbean - 1834 - Lord Auckland - East Indies - Williamstown - Melbourne - Port Phillip - 1837 - Bay of Islands - James Busby - Maori - May 26 - 1838

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At the time, the British government recognised the sovereignty of the Maori people, as represented in the Declaration of the Independence of New Zealand of October 1835, which had been organised by Busby. Hobson was appointed as lieutenant governor (ratified on July 30, 1839) and British consul to New Zealand (confirmed on August 13, 1839). He was issued with detailed instructions by Lord Normanby on August 14, giving reasons for intervention in New Zealand and directions for the purchase of land 'by fair and equal contracts'. The land would be resold to settlers at a profit to provide for further operations.

Related Topics:
Declaration of the Independence of New Zealand - 1835 - July 30 - 1839 - August 13 - Lord Normanby - August 14

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Hobson arrived at the Bay of Islands on January 29, 1840 with a small group of officials, including an Executive Council comprised of the Colonial Secretary Willoughby Shortland, Colonial Treasurer George Cooper and Attorney-General Francis Fisher. The Legislative Council comprised the above officials and three Justices of the Peace.

Related Topics:
Bay of Islands - January 29 - 1840 - Willoughby Shortland

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Upon arrival Hobson almost immediately drafted the Treaty of Waitangi together his secretary James Freeeman and Busby. After obtaining signatures at the Bay of Islands, he travelled to Waitemata Harbour to obtain more signatures and survey a location for a new capital. (He also sent the Deputy Surveyor-General, William Cornwallis Symonds, to other areas to obtain more signatures.) After suffering a stroke on March 1 he was taken back to the Bay of Islands, where he recovered sufficiently to continue work.

Related Topics:
Treaty of Waitangi - Waitemata Harbour - William Cornwallis Symonds - Stroke - March 1

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On May 21, in response to the settlers at Port Nicholson (later Wellington) who were laying out a new town under the flag of the independent New Zealand, he asserted British sovereignty over the whole of New Zealand, despite the incompleteness of the Treaty signing effort. He sent Willoughby Shortland and some soldiers to Port Nicholson on May 25, where the council of the settlers was disbanded. Their leader William Wakefield later travelled to the Bay of Islands to pledge allegiance to the Crown. His suggestion to make Port Nicholson the capital was rejected in favour of Hobson's plan for a new town on Waitemata Harbour, to be named Auckland after Lord Auckland.

Related Topics:
May 21 - Port Nicholson - Wellington - Willoughby Shortland - May 25 - William Wakefield - Auckland

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On July 11 the French frigate L'Aube arrived at the Bay of Islands on its way to Banks Peninsula as part of the settlement plan of the Nanto-Bordelaise Company. Hobson immediately sent two magistrates to the area to establish a claim by holding courts.

Related Topics:
July 11 - Banks Peninsula - Nanto-Bordelaise Company

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Near the end of 1840 the Port Nicholson settlers sent a petition to Queen Victoria calling for Hobson's dismissal over his treatment of them. Hobson responded on May 26, 1841 to the secretary of state.

Related Topics:
Port Nicholson - Petition - Queen Victoria - May 26 - 1841

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In November 1840 the Queen signed a royal charter for New Zealand to become a Crown colony separate from New South Wales. Hobson was sworn in as Governor and Commander in Chief on May 3, 1841. Until that moment Hobson was Lieutenant-Governor of New Zealand under the Governor of New South Wales, Sir George Gipps.

Related Topics:
Royal charter - New South Wales - Governor and Commander in Chief - May 3 - 1841 - Governor of New South Wales - George Gipps

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Hobson travelled to Wellington in August 1841, where he heard the complaints of settlers and selected magistrates. He then visited Akaroa to settle the French claims. Back in Auckland, he had some difficulty with the Maori and his government was ridiculed by journalists in Wellington and Auckland. He responded by closing down the New Zealand Herald and Auckland Gazette. With his government low on funds, he resorted to issuing unauthorised bills on the British Treasury in 1842. Hobson faced opposition from the Senate clique who sent a petition to the secretary of state to have Hobson recalled.

Related Topics:
Akaroa - New Zealand Herald and Auckland Gazette - 1842 - Senate clique

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Hobson suffered a second stroke and died on September 10, 1842. He was buried in the Grafton cemetery in Auckland.

Related Topics:
September 10 - Grafton cemetery

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