Wilson, John Alexander, 1829-1909 (Person)

SummaryJohn Alexander Wilson arrived in New Zealand with his family on 11 April 1833. His naval officer father, John Alexander Wilson was accepted as a lay preacher with the Church Missionary Society and his mother was Anne Catherine Hawker.

He worked in government positions before being appointed a Native Land Court Judge in 1878-1880, reappointed from 1886-1891 and 1895-1901.
In 1874 Wilson, in partnership with William Kelly, purchased the volcanic White Island (Whakaari) from George Simpkins.

In 1878 he bought land in Tauranga on which to build a sulphur works for export and acquired a 43-foot cutter, the Tāmaki Packet.

By 1880, son Charles Hawker Wilson, was managing the works which now processed the sulphur.
The New Zealand Manure and Chemical was formed in 1883.
Wilson retained his share of Whakaari White Island until about 1901, when he sold it to the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company.

In addition to his two polemical pamphlets, Wilson published a cosmological and climatological treatise: The Immortality of the Universe (1875), and two works of Māori history: The story of Te Waharoa (1866) and Sketches of ancient Māori Life and History (1894).

Wilson died in Auckland on 28 April 1909.SourcesWilson, John Alexander » Jinty Rorke. 'Wilson, John Alexander', Dictionary of New Zealand Biography, first published in 1993, updated April 2022. Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/biographies/2w29/wilson-john-alexanderObituary J.A.Wilson » New Zealand Herald, 29 April 1909The Late General George Alfred Wilson. Obituary » Bay of Plenty Times, 11 April 1859.Prospectus of the NZ Manure and Chemical Company soliciting shareholders » Bay of Plenty Times, 23 March 1886. Alice Wilson » Coney, S., & Auckland Young Women's Christian Association. (1986). Every girl: A social history of women and the YWCA in Auckland, 1885–1985. Auckland, N.Z.: Auckland YWCAWhite Island Sulphur, Editorial » Bay of Plenty Times, 22 March 1884

Supporting PDF

Birth Certification J A Wilson 1829

Our People (authority)

Wilson, Anne Catherine (née Hawker), 1802-1838

J.A. Wilson

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Personal Information

First Name(s)John AlexanderSurnameWilsonDate of Birth1829Place of BirthConde, FranceDate of Death1909Place of DeathGrafton Road, Auckland

Whānau

MotherWilson, Anne Catherine (née Hawker), 1802-1838FatherJohn Alexander WilsonChildrenCharles Hawker WilsonWyvern Wilson

Partner

PartnerAnne Lydia Dent (1835-1915)Date Married20 November 1855Place of MarriageSaint Luke, Island of Jersey

Settler Information

Name of ShipByronDate of Arrival1833Port of ArrivalBay of Islands

Military Service

Armed ForceNixon's Cavalry Volunteers (1861-1863)

Military Service

Armed Force3rd Battalion Auckland Militia (1864)

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AuthorTe Ao Mārama - Tauranga City LibrariesType of ContributionLibrary authorityTaxonomyStories | People

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Wilson, John Alexander, 1829-1909 (Person)