William Hobson
William Hobson | |
|---|---|
Captain William Hobson, RN (post captain). Artist: James McDonald, c. 1913, copy after William Collins of Bath, c. 1835. | |
| 1st Governor of New Zealand | |
| In office 3 May 1841 – 10 September 1842 | |
| Monarch | Victoria |
| Preceded by | Office established |
| Succeeded by | Robert FitzRoy |
| Lieutenant-Governor of New Zealand | |
| In office 30 July 1839 – 3 May 1841 | |
| Monarch | Victoria |
| Governor | George Gipps (Governor of New South Wales) |
| Preceded by | Office established |
| Succeeded by | Office abolished |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 26 September 1792 |
| Died | 10 September 1842 (aged 49) |
| Resting place | Symonds Street Cemetery |
| Spouse |
Eliza Ann Elliott (m. 1827) |
| Children | 5 |
| Military career | |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Branch | Royal Navy |
| Service years | 1803–1842 |
| Rank | Captain |
| Served on | HMS Virginie, 1803– HMS Dart, 1805– HMS Temeraire, 1806– HMS Theseus, 1808– HMS Poictiers HMS Dragon HMS Peruvian, 1813– HMS Spey, 1818– HMS Tyne, 1821– HMS Lion, 1823– HMS Ferret, 1825– HMS Scylla, 1826– HMS Rattlesnake, 1834– |
| Commands | Frederick, 1819 Whim, 1822
|
| Campaigns | |
| Memorials | Memorial plaque, Waitangi Treaty Grounds Memorial, St Paul's Church, Auckland |
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Captain William Hobson (26 September 1792 – 10 September 1842) was a Royal Navy officer and colonial administrator who served as the first governor of New Zealand from 1841 to 1842. He was a co-author of the Treaty of Waitangi which he, as Crown representative, and several Maori chiefs signed on 6 February 1840. On 3 May 1840, he proclaimed British sovereignty over New Zealand. He also selected the site for a new capital, which he named Auckland. In May 1841, New Zealand was constituted as a separate Crown colony with Hobson promoted to governor and commander-in-chief. In his final months, Hobson was dogged by poor health which left him detached from political affairs. He died in office in September 1842.