John Hutcheson Explained

John Hutcheson
Constituency Mp:City of Wellington
Parliament:New Zealand
Term Start:4 December 1896
Term End:25 November 1902
alongside George Fisher, Robert Stout, Arthur Atkinson & John Duthie
Predecessor:John Duthie
Successor:John Aitken
Party:Liberal–Labour
Birth Date:1853
Birth Place:Dumbarton, Scotland
Death Date:1940
Death Place:New Zealand

John Hutcheson (1853–1940) was a Member of Parliament in New Zealand, for the Liberal Party.

Biography

Early life

A native of Dumbarton, Scotland, where he was born in 1855, he was educated at the Dumbarton Academy, where he gained a South Kensington science and art scholarship, which qualified him for a cadetship in naval architecture at Messrs. Denny Bros.' shipbuilding yards. After about a year, Mr. Hutcheson desired a change, and embarked as an apprentice on one of Messrs. J. and A. Allan's ships. He had the usual experience of "a life on the ocean wave," visiting the East and West Indies and America, remaining a considerable time in the United States. While in Portland, Oregon, he took part in the Presidential Election contests of Hayes and Tilden. Mr. Hutcheson went to Cuba during one of the periodical uprisings, and had to submit to a blockade of some five months at Santiago.

Hutcheson arrived in New Zealand in 1880, as second mate of the barque "Isle of Erin." He subsequently spent four years as first and second mate of several other coastal vessels, including the Government steamers Stella and Hinemoa. Afterwards he was employed for ten years as rigger by Messrs. E. W. Mills and Co., and in 1894 he commenced business on his own account, a company that became HUTCHWILCO.[1]

Political career

He was returned in the Labour and Liberal interest as senior member for Wellington City at the General Election of 1896.

He represented the City of Wellington electorate from 1896 to 3 July 1899, when he resigned.[2] He won the subsequent by-election on 25 July 1899.[3] He was again elected at the 1899 general election and retired at the end of the term in 1902.

Notes and References

  1. News: The New Parliament . 5 January 2016 . . 10 December 1896 . 2232 . 20.
  2. Book: Wilson, James Oakley . New Zealand Parliamentary Record, 1840–1984 . 4th . First ed. published 1913 . 1985 . V.R. Ward, Govt. Printer . Wellington . 154283103 .
  3. Book: Scholefield, Guy . New Zealand Parliamentary Record, 1840–1949 . Guy Scholefield . 3rd . First ed. published 1913 . 1950 . Govt. Printer . Wellington .