George Read (New Zealand politician)
Encyclopedia
George Edward Read was a 19th century Member of Parliament from the Gisborne Region
of New Zealand
.
Read was born in Mendlesham
, Suffolk, England, in either 1814 or 1815. Little is known of his early life. He came to the Pacific in the 1830s on a whaling ship, and worked on trading ships. By 1852, he owned a schooner
. He was a prominent trader and landowner in the Gisborne
area from 1852.
Following the general election held on 6 January 1876, he represented the East Coast
electorate until 22 August, when he was unseated on a petition.
Gisborne Region
The Gisborne Region is an area of northeastern New Zealand governed by the Gisborne District Council, a unitary authority. Its largest settlement, the city also named Gisborne, is located at the northern end of Poverty Bay on the east coast....
of New Zealand
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...
.
Read was born in Mendlesham
Mendlesham
Mendlesham, Suffolk is a small village with 1328 inhabitants, north east of Stowmarket and from LondonMendlesham is known for its large street fair which is held on every May Day bank holiday. Mendlesham has a popular community newsletter, and a good primary school. There are two public houses in...
, Suffolk, England, in either 1814 or 1815. Little is known of his early life. He came to the Pacific in the 1830s on a whaling ship, and worked on trading ships. By 1852, he owned a schooner
Schooner
A schooner is a type of sailing vessel characterized by the use of fore-and-aft sails on two or more masts with the forward mast being no taller than the rear masts....
. He was a prominent trader and landowner in the Gisborne
Gisborne, New Zealand
-Economy:The harbour was host to many ships in the past and had developed as a river port to provide a more secure location for shipping compared with the open roadstead of Poverty Bay which can be exposed to southerly swells. A meat works was sited beside the harbour and meat and wool was shipped...
area from 1852.
Following the general election held on 6 January 1876, he represented the East Coast
East Coast (New Zealand electorate)
East Coast is a New Zealand Parliamentary electorate, returning one Member of Parliament to the New Zealand House of Representatives. The electorate first existed from 1871 to 1893. From 1996 to 2002, the electorate was called Mahia...
electorate until 22 August, when he was unseated on a petition.