Robley, Horatio Gordon, 1840-1930 (Person)

SummaryHoratio Gordon Robley was an artist known for his sketches and watercolours of Māori people and culture, which he created during his time fighting as a British soldier in the New Zealand Wars.

Horatio was born at Funchal, Madeira, on 28th of June 1840, to Augusta June Robley (née Penfold) and John Horatio Robley, who was a Captain in the Indian Army. In 1858 he purchased an ensigncy in the 68th Durham Light Infantry. After a short period of training he joined his regiment in Burma where he remained for nearly five years. In 1860 Robley was sent home to England for a period of sick leave. Later in the same year he was present at the siege of Delhi; afterwards, at Rangoon, he assumed command of the guard of King Bahadur Shad.

In 1863 the 68th Regiment left Burma for New Zealand and, in the following April, Robley took his troops to Tauranga to join General Cameron's forces attacking Gate Pā. Here he remained for 19 months during which his amazing series of sketches of Māori life were executed. Until shortly before his death in London on the 29th of October 1930, Robley maintained a lively correspondence with distinguished New Zealanders. His interest in tattoo and in preserved heads never diminished.

His locally inspired works are below. They often use the original piece title and may therefore include misspellings or out of date terms.

Dates unknown: Chief Hōri Ngātai. Tauranga Heritage Collection 1210/84.
Dates unknown: Henare Taratoa. Tauranga Heritage Collection 1217/84.
1863 or 1864: Tapu A-080-003

1864: Breach at Gate Pā, morning of April 30, 1864 (1992-0035-850)
1864: Building a redoubt at the Wairoa, Tauranga. (1992-0035-843)
1864: Camp at Tauranga (1992-0035-844)
1864: Canoe race December 29th 1865 (1992-0035-1587a)
1864: Erena. A-080-009
1864: Māori arms taken at Te Ranga, 21 June 1864 (1992-0035-2354)
1864: Māori girl (1992-0035-825)
1864: Māori war dance (1992-0035-724)
1864: Morning breaking, day of Gate Pā attack, 29th April 1864 (1992-0035-731)
1864: Old canoe on Wairoa bank, Tauranga (1992-0035-853)
1864: Plan, Battle of Pukehinahina. Tauranga Heritage Collection 1214/84.
1864: Pukehinahina Gate Pā after battle, 29 April 1864. Tauranga Heritage Collection 1213/84.
1864: Rear of the Korari fence, Gate Pā 1864 (1992-0035-834)
1864: Redoubt built on the site of Gate Pā (1992-0035-827)
1864: Sale of a mokomokai (1992-0035-723)
1864: Scene in the pits, Gate Pah (1992-0035-750)
1864: Shell wound, Gate Pā (1992-0035-2149)
1864: Surrender of the Ngāi Te Rangi after Te Ranga (1992-0035-738)
1864: Surrender of the Tauranga natives at Te Papa. (1992-0035-828)
1864: Waimapū (1992-0035-749)
1864: Woman relatives mourning over the spear of a man killed at Te Ranga battle (1992-0035-737)

1865: Arawa soldier warning off. Maketū Pā, September 1865 (1992-0035-1703)
1865: Beach at Maketū Pā. (1992-0035-829)
1865: Church of the Māori at Maungatapu (1992-0035-831)
1865: Corner gate, Maketū Pā 1992-0035-1141
1865: Elizabeth Faulkner (1992-0035-1891)
1865: Enoka te Whanaki’s house at Matapihi (1992-0035-833)
1865: Graves at Hūria (1992-0035-748)
1865: Haka peruperu by Te Arawa at Maketū. Te Ao Mārama - Tauranga City Libraries Art 21-008
1865: Maketū Pā, Bay of Plenty (1992-0035-826)
1865: Māori sentry on gate at Maketū, 1865. Te Ao Mārama - Tauranga City Libraries Art 21-007
1865: No 3 Gate, Maketū Pā (1992-0035-1892)
1865: One of the gates of the Maketū Pā (1992-0035-727)
1865: Oyster sellers at the Gate Pā (1992-0035-1701)
1865: Pataka at Wairoa (1992-0035-836)
1865: Portraits at Waimapū (1992-0035-744)
1865: Prow & stern of war canoes at Matapihi, Tauranga. (1992-0035-739)
1865: Roman Catholic chapel Ōtūmoetai (1992-0035-1705)
1865: Tangi over a woman, Matapihi (1992-0035-746)
1865: Tattooed gate, Maketū B-139-016
1865: Te Mutu (1992-0035-1642)
1865: Te Papa, Tauranga (1992-0035-1893)
1865: The chief’s daughter steering. (1992-0035-1706)
1865: Tribal war canoe, Te Papa beach (1992-0035-846)
1865: Two Māori graves at Matapihi (1992-0035-745)
1865: Waka tauā racing on Tauranga harbour. Te Ao Mārama - Tauranga City Libraries Art 21-009 and artists index.
1865: War dance of the Arawas (Matatā) (1992-0035-839)
1865: See also Maketū. 1865 A-080-051
1866: Tauranga E. (1992-0035-845)
1866: Te Papa cemetery (1992-0035-1142) Last edited by: Rose Chalklen

SourcesBellamy, A. (Ed.), (1990). 'Horatio Gordon Robley : soldier artist in the Bay of Plenty, 1864-1866'. An edited version of 'Soldier with a Pencil' By L.W. Melvin, 1957. Tauranga Historical Society. Last edited by: Rose Chalklen

Phillipps, William John (1966). 'Robley, Major-General Horatio Gordon (1840-1930). from An Encyclopaedia of New Zealand, edited by A. H. McLintock. Last edited by: Rose Chalklen

Northern Advocate. (1930, October 30). Obituary. Major-General Robley. Māori War Service. p. 5. Last edited by: Kate Charteris

Waka in Te Awanui (Portrait) 1865

Te Ao Mārama - Tauranga City Libraries Photo 05-274 (portion restored)

Usage

Kaitiakitanga StatementWe ask that, in addition to normal copyright and privacy considerations, users of our heritage resources uphold the mana and dignity of the people, communities and places depicted within. Last edited by: Rose Chalklen

AcknowledgementTe Ao Mārama - Tauranga City Libraries Robley, Horatio Gordon, 1840-1930 (Person)

Personal Information

First Name(s)Horatio Gordon Last edited by: Rose Chalklen

SurnameRobley Last edited by: Rose Chalklen

GenderMale Last edited by: Rose Chalklen

Date of Birth28 June 1840 Last edited by: Rose Chalklen

Place of BirthFunchal, Madeira, Portugal Last edited by: Rose Chalklen

Date of Death29 October 1930 Last edited by: Rose Chalklen

Place of DeathLondon, England Last edited by: Rose Chalklen

OccupationSoldier Last edited by: Rose Chalklen

Artist

Whānau