George Richardson (New Zealand politician)


George Frederick Richardson, sometimes published as George Francis Richardson, was a 19th-century Member of Parliament in Southland, New Zealand and a cabinet minister.

Biography

Richardson was born in Cheltenham, England, and came to New Zealand in 1851 on the ship Dominion. He moved to Dunedin, where he qualified as a surveyor. In 1867 he married Augusta Marie Isabella Paterson White, daughter of Invercargill merchant Thomas John White; they had three daughters and two sons.
He represented the Mataura electorate from 1884 to 1893 when he was defeated, and from 1896 to 1898 when he was adjudged bankrupt.
He was Minister of Lands, Minister of Mines, Minister of Immigration and Minister of Agriculture in the 5th Atkinson Ministry.
In 1891 he was granted the right to retain the title of "Honourable". He died at his residence in Tinakori Road, Wellington on 23 October 1909, and was buried at Karori Cemetery.