Alexander Shepherd (public servant)

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Alexander Shepherd
2nd Colonial Treasurer
In office
9 May 1842 – 14 June 1854
Preceded byGeorge Cooper
Succeeded byDillon Bell
Personal details
Bornc. 1797/98
Aberdeen, Scotland
Died20 July 1859
Auckland, New Zealand

Alexander Shepherd (c. 1797/98 – 20 July 1859) was the second Colonial Treasurer of New Zealand.

Biography[edit]

Shepherd was born in Aberdeen. He arrived in Wellington on the New York Packet from London in 1842, where he was delayed by a month before the next vessel went to Auckland, then the seat of the Government.[1]

Shepherd was appointed Colonial Treasurer on 9 May 1842, succeeding George Cooper.[2] He thus became a member of the Executive Council of the Crown Colony, with the role of Colonial Treasurer being the fourth most senior role at the time (after Governor, Colonial Secretary and Attorney-General).[3] When New Zealand gained self-government with the formation of the Fitzgerald Ministry on 14 June 1854, Shepherd's role was disestablished and he was given a government pension.[1][2]

Shepherd's stepdaughter, Jane Augusta Griffith, married Frederick Whitaker at St. Paul's Church in Auckland on 4 March 1843.[4] His second daughter, Cecilia Mary, married Maurice O'Rorke on 31 December 1858.[5]

Shepherd died on 20 July 1859 aged 61 years[6] in Auckland after a short illness.[7]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ a b Cyclopedia Company Limited (1897). "Mr. George Cooper". The Cyclopedia of New Zealand : Wellington Provincial District. Wellington. Retrieved 14 January 2012.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  2. ^ a b Scholefield 1950, p. 16.
  3. ^ Scholefield 1950, p. 15.
  4. ^ Stone, R. C. J. "Whitaker, Frederick – Biography". Dictionary of New Zealand Biography. Ministry for Culture and Heritage. Retrieved 14 January 2012.
  5. ^ Rogers, Frank. "O'Rorke, George Maurice – Biography". Dictionary of New Zealand Biography. Ministry for Culture and Heritage. Retrieved 14 January 2012.
  6. ^ "Died". Daily Southern Cross. Vol. XVI, no. 1238. 22 July 1859. p. 3. Retrieved 13 January 2012.
  7. ^ "Died". Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle. Vol. XVIII, no. 63. 6 August 1859. p. 2. Retrieved 13 January 2012.

References[edit]

  • Scholefield, Guy (1950) [First ed. published 1913]. New Zealand Parliamentary Record, 1840–1949 (3rd ed.). Wellington: Govt. Printer.
Political offices
Preceded by Colonial Treasurer
1842–1854
Succeeded by