James Hudson (explorer)

James Hudson (13 October 1854 – 8 July 1912) was a New Zealand medical doctor and explorer.^[1]

Hudson was born in London, United Kingdom, and attended Devizes Grammar School.^[1] He became an apprentice to a doctor before completing his medical degree at the University of London in 1879.^[1][2]

After practising for two years in Kimberley, South Africa and serving as a surgeon during the Zulu war of 1879 he emigrated to New Zealand in 1880.^[1][2] He set up his medical practice in Nelson. He served on the Nelson City Council from 1901 resigning in 1905 when he was appointed district health officer for Nelson and Marlborough.^[3] He was medical officer to the Nelson and Stoke orphanages from 1902 to 1907.^[1]

In New Zealand lodges, or friendly societies, appointed doctors to provide medical services at reduced rates to members and their families.^[4] Hudson was dismissed by the lodge The Ancient Order of Foresters in 1896 because "he refused to reduced his rate below one pound per patient per annum".^[4] He was supported by the New Zealand Branch of the British Medical Association.^[1][4]

In 1907 Hudson retired to Tapawera but continued to practice medicine. He died in a car accident on the Spooner Range, south of Nelson on the road between Tapawera and Belgrove, on 8 July 1912 was buried in the churchyard at Stoke.^[1][5][3]