Charles Fell
Encyclopedia
Charles Yates Fell, was a New Zealand
barrister, councillor, mayor and watercolour artist.
and grandson of Henry Seymour, after whom Seymour Square
in Blenheim
is named.
Fell took lessons with the Rev Meyrick Lully and later with Archdeacon Paul of Nelson. In 1859 both he and his parents returned to England where he attended King's College School
, London
. From the he went to St John's College, Oxford
from 1863 to 1867 obtaining a Bachelor of Arts
. He returned to New Zealand in 1870 after marrying in 1867.
Fell was admitted to bar and joined the Home Circuit, entered Lincoln's Inn
, and thence Inner Temple
. After a short time practicing in England he returned to New Zealand. In 1880 he entered into partnership with Arthur Atkinson
, founding the legal firm Fell and Atkinson. For many years Fell was the Crown Solicitor, Registrar of the Diocese
of Nelson, and governor of Nelson College
.
He was also a good athlete. Noted for his speed at sprints, a stroke
for his college boat at Oxford, and an expert horseman. In Nelson he was an enthusiastic yachtsman.
Fell married 1867 and returned to New Zealand 1870. After death of his first wife he married Atkinson's daughter. She was also the niece of the painter Dorothy Richmond
.
One of his sons, Dr A N Fell
, played rugby for Scotland
, while studying at Edinburgh University and served in the Royal Army Medical Corps
. Another, Charles Richard Fell took his place in Fell and Atkinson. He also had two daughters, Mrs Lindo Levin (London) and Mrs R Humphries (Wellington).
Fell died at Nelson on 9 June 1918 aged 74.
of the Bishop Suter Art Gallery
, Nelson from its inception in 1896 until his death in 1918. In 1918 he accompanied the painter Henry Morland Gore on a sketching tour of Matai Valley
and a member of the New Zealand Academy of Fine Arts
.
Two of his works, St Johns Farm, Prades (1916) and Mountain Village are held in the Suter. A third, Country Scene, Nelson, is held in a private collection.
Prior to returning to painting, Fell had become a photographer, specialising in landscapes and portraits. Some of his photographs are held in the National Library of New Zealand
.
Fell's talents also extended to music, being noted as a fine musician. He also promoted and supported the Nelson School of Music.
resigned. Fell remained Mayor until 21 December 1887 when he was succeeded by John Sharp
.
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
barrister, councillor, mayor and watercolour artist.
Background
Fell was born in Nelson in 1844. He was the son of Alfred Fell, merchant and early settler, brother of the English politician Arthur FellArthur Fell
Sir Arthur Fell was an English solicitor and Conservative Party politician. After a notorious legal case in 1906 where a biased judge dismissed an election petition against him, Fell sat in the House of Commons from 1906 to 1922 for Great Yarmouth...
and grandson of Henry Seymour, after whom Seymour Square
Seymour Square, Blenheim
Seymour Square is an open public area at the centre of Blenheim, New Zealand. The Square contains the War Memorial and Clock Tower, unveiled in 1928, which is classified as a "Category I" historic place by the New Zealand Historic Places Trust. The Square was named after Henry Seymour....
in Blenheim
Blenheim, New Zealand
Blenheim is the most populous town in the region of Marlborough, in the north east of the South Island of New Zealand, and the seat of the regional council. It has a population of The area which surrounds the town is well known as a centre of New Zealand's wine industry...
is named.
Fell took lessons with the Rev Meyrick Lully and later with Archdeacon Paul of Nelson. In 1859 both he and his parents returned to England where he attended King's College School
King's College School
King's College School, commonly referred to as KCS, King's, or KCS Wimbledon, is an independent school for day pupils in Wimbledon in south-west London. The school was founded as the junior department of King's College London and occupied part of its premises in Strand, before relocating to...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. From the he went to St John's College, Oxford
St John's College, Oxford
__FORCETOC__St John's College is a constituent college of the University of Oxford, one of the larger Oxford colleges with approximately 390 undergraduates, 200 postgraduates and over 100 academic staff. It was founded by Sir Thomas White, a merchant, in 1555, whose heart is buried in the chapel of...
from 1863 to 1867 obtaining a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
. He returned to New Zealand in 1870 after marrying in 1867.
Fell was admitted to bar and joined the Home Circuit, entered Lincoln's Inn
Lincoln's Inn
The Honourable Society of Lincoln's Inn is one of four Inns of Court in London to which barristers of England and Wales belong and where they are called to the Bar. The other three are Middle Temple, Inner Temple and Gray's Inn. Although Lincoln's Inn is able to trace its official records beyond...
, and thence Inner Temple
Inner Temple
The Honourable Society of the Inner Temple, commonly known as Inner Temple, is one of the four Inns of Court in London. To be called to the Bar and practise as a barrister in England and Wales, an individual must belong to one of these Inns...
. After a short time practicing in England he returned to New Zealand. In 1880 he entered into partnership with Arthur Atkinson
Arthur Samuel Atkinson
Arthur Samuel Atkinson was a 19th century Member of Parliament from the Taranaki Region, New Zealand.He represented the Omata electorate from 1866 to 1867, when he resigned....
, founding the legal firm Fell and Atkinson. For many years Fell was the Crown Solicitor, Registrar of the Diocese
Diocese
A diocese is the district or see under the supervision of a bishop. It is divided into parishes.An archdiocese is more significant than a diocese. An archdiocese is presided over by an archbishop whose see may have or had importance due to size or historical significance...
of Nelson, and governor of Nelson College
Nelson College
Nelson College is a boys-only state secondary school in Nelson, New Zealand. It teaches from years 9 to 13. In addition, it runs a private Preparatory School for year 7 and 8 boys...
.
He was also a good athlete. Noted for his speed at sprints, a stroke
Stroke (rowing)
Stroke is a term which has multiple meanings within the sport of rowing. It is used to refer to the action of propelling the boat with oars, to a rower seated in a particular position and to one side of the boat.-Stroke action:...
for his college boat at Oxford, and an expert horseman. In Nelson he was an enthusiastic yachtsman.
Fell married 1867 and returned to New Zealand 1870. After death of his first wife he married Atkinson's daughter. She was also the niece of the painter Dorothy Richmond
Dorothy Kate Richmond
Dorothy Kate Richmond was a New Zealand painter noted for her watercolor paintings of natural plants and animals and panoramic landscapes.-Biography:...
.
One of his sons, Dr A N Fell
Alfred Fell
Alfred Nolan Fell MB ChB was an international rugby union player for Scotland as a member of Edinburgh University RFC....
, played rugby for Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, while studying at Edinburgh University and served in the Royal Army Medical Corps
Royal Army Medical Corps
The Royal Army Medical Corps is a specialist corps in the British Army which provides medical services to all British Army personnel and their families in war and in peace...
. Another, Charles Richard Fell took his place in Fell and Atkinson. He also had two daughters, Mrs Lindo Levin (London) and Mrs R Humphries (Wellington).
Fell died at Nelson on 9 June 1918 aged 74.
Painter
Fell had painted in watercolour while at King's College but did not paint seriously until later life. He was a TrusteeTrustee
Trustee is a legal term which, in its broadest sense, can refer to any person who holds property, authority, or a position of trust or responsibility for the benefit of another...
of the Bishop Suter Art Gallery
Andrew Burn Suter
The Rt Rev Andrew Burn Suter, DD was the second Anglican Bishop of Nelson whose Episcopate spanned a 26 year period during the second half of the 19th century....
, Nelson from its inception in 1896 until his death in 1918. In 1918 he accompanied the painter Henry Morland Gore on a sketching tour of Matai Valley
Nelson, New Zealand
Nelson is a city on the eastern shores of Tasman Bay, and is the economic and cultural centre of the Nelson-Tasman region. Established in 1841, it is the second oldest settled city in New Zealand and the oldest in the South Island....
and a member of the New Zealand Academy of Fine Arts
New Zealand Academy of Fine Arts
The New Zealand Academy of Fine Arts galleries were opened as a free public gallery on Whitmore Street in 1892...
.
Two of his works, St Johns Farm, Prades (1916) and Mountain Village are held in the Suter. A third, Country Scene, Nelson, is held in a private collection.
Prior to returning to painting, Fell had become a photographer, specialising in landscapes and portraits. Some of his photographs are held in the National Library of New Zealand
National Library of New Zealand
The National Library of New Zealand is New Zealand's legal deposit library charged with the obligation to "enrich the cultural and economic life of New Zealand and its interchanges with other nations"...
.
Fell's talents also extended to music, being noted as a fine musician. He also promoted and supported the Nelson School of Music.
Mayor
Fell became Mayor of Nelson on 23 November 1882 when Edward EverettEdward William Everett
- Political career :As a Councillor, Everett was named as one of several Councillors who voted for the appointment of Joseph Levien in 1875.Everett was the third Mayor of Nelson, replacing Joseph Levien who died in office. Everett was elected unopposed on 16 June 1876...
resigned. Fell remained Mayor until 21 December 1887 when he was succeeded by John Sharp
John Sharp (New Zealand politician)
John Sharp was a 19th century Member of Parliament from Nelson, New Zealand and Mayor of Nelson.-Early life:Sharp was born in Maidstone, Kent, England, in 1828. He was educated at Chatham House College, Ramsgate, for the Navy for four years. However, he joined the merchant service. He was an...
.