Dr Thomas Renwick (1818 – 28 November 1879) was an early New Zealand settler in the Nelson and Marlborough regions. He was a member of the New Zealand Legislative Council for 16 years.
Thomas Renwick | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of the New Zealand Legislative Council | |
| In office 15 October 1863 – 28 November 1879 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1818 Dumgree, Dumfries, Scotland |
| Died | 28 November 1879 Renwick House ("Newstead"), Nelson |
| Resting place | Wakapuaka Cemetery |
| Spouse(s) |
Adeline Absolon
(m. 1846–1860)Anne Smith (m. 1872) |
| Residence | Renwick House |
Early life edit
Renwick was born in 1818 in Dumgree, a locality just north of Dumfries in Scotland and not far from Moffat. His parents were Herbert Renwick and Elizabeth Brown, and he had three known elder siblings.[1] He received his medical education in Edinburgh and then practised in Kent, England, for a brief period.[2] He was a ship's doctor on a return journey to India from 1840 to 1841. On 26 May 1842, he sailed as a ship's doctor on the Thomas Harrison to Nelson as part of the New Zealand Company's settlement scheme.[3] They arrived in Nelson on 25 October 1842, with two children having died on the voyage (which is considered a low death rate).[4]
Life in New Zealand edit
It is believed that Renwick helped the Chinese-born Appo Hocton, who had also arrived on the Thomas Harrison, get off a jail term. Hocton worked as a housekeeper for Renwick during 1843. Renwick established a medical practice in Nelson. From his income, he purchased livestock for farming and financed George Hooper's brewery. On 11 August 1846, he married Adeline Absolon. His wife was wealthy and this allowed Renwick to purchase land in the Awatere Valley in Marlborough. He freeholded 8,500 hectares (21,000 acres) and named his land Dumgree after his birthplace.[3] The name Dumgree is in use for a hill (645 metres or 2,116 feet) and trig station in the Awatere.[5] In 1855, he bought 4,800 hectares (12,000 acres) of land in the Waihopai Valley from the estate of Constantine Dillon.[6]
After his wife had an affair, she moved to London in 1860. Renwick visited her twice in London but she was unwilling to return to New Zealand. They signed a deed of separation. Adeline Renwick died in London in 1870.[3] Renwick married Anne Smith in early 1872. The bought a house named Newstead. After Renwick's death, his wife lived there until 1937. Later, the house became known as Renwick House. Still standing, it is part of Nelson Central School.[3]
Political career edit
Renwick stood in the 1853 New Zealand provincial elections in the Town of Nelson electorate. Of seven candidates for five available positions, he came second (just one vote behind the winner).[7] He was a member of the Nelson Provincial Council during the first two councils from August 1853 to November 1861.[8] From the beginning, he was advocating for the independence of Marlborough from Nelson and in 1859, the Marlborough Province was split off from the Nelson Province.[3] Renwick did not stand for the third provincial council in May 1862 as he was just about to visit England.[9]
When Renwick returned from his first visit to London, he was appointed to the New Zealand Legislative Council from 15 October 1863 to 28 November 1879, when he died.[10]
Death and commemoration edit
Renwick died on 28 November 1879 at his home.[11] He is buried at Wakapuaka Cemetery.[3] The town of Renwick in Marlborough is named after him after the land was subdivided from his Waihopai property.[6][12]
References edit
- ^ "Dr Thomas Renwick". Renwick Museum. Retrieved 3 November 2020.
- ^ "Renwick, Thomas". Marlborough Online. Retrieved 3 November 2020.
- ^ a b c d e f Stronach, Alexander. "Dr Thomas Renwick". The Prow. Retrieved 3 November 2020.
- ^ "Thomas Harrison". Nelson Provincial Museum. Retrieved 3 November 2020.
- ^ "Dumgree". New Zealand Gazetteer. Retrieved 3 November 2020.
- ^ a b Stephens, Joy. "Early Renwick". The Prow. Retrieved 6 November 2020.
- ^ "Election of members for the provincial council for the Town of Nelson". Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle. Vol. XII, no. 597. 13 August 1853. p. 7. Retrieved 3 November 2020.
- ^ Scholefield, Guy (1950) [First published in 1913]. New Zealand Parliamentary Record, 1840–1949 (3rd ed.). Wellington: Govt. Printer. p. 214.
- ^ "New advertisements". Colonist. Vol. V, no. 481. 3 June 1862. p. 2. Retrieved 3 November 2020.
- ^ Wilson, James Oakley (1985) [First ed. published 1913]. New Zealand parliamentary record, 1840-1984 (4 ed.). Wellington: V.R. Ward, Govt. Printer. p. 162. OCLC 154283103.
- ^ "Death". Nelson Evening Mail. Vol. XIV, no. 274. 29 November 1879. p. 2. Retrieved 3 November 2020.
- ^ Reed, A. W. (2010). Peter Dowling (ed.). Place Names of New Zealand. Rosedale, North Shore: Raupo. p. 345. ISBN 9780143204107.