Kennedy Macdonald
New Zealand politician
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Thomas Kennedy Macdonald (6 April 1847 – 17 October 1914), known as Kennedy Macdonald or Kennedy Mac, was a 19th-century Liberal Party Member of Parliament in Wellington, New Zealand.
Kennedy Macdonald | |
|---|---|
| |
| Member of the New Zealand Parliament for City of Wellington | |
| In office 5 December 1890 – 28 November 1891 | |
| Succeeded by | William McLean |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 6 April 1847 Boulogne-sur-Mer, France |
| Died | 17 October 1914 (aged 67) Porirua, New Zealand |
| Party | Liberal |
| Spouse | Frances Rossiter |
Early life
Macdonald was born in Boulogne-sur-Mer in northern France. He came to Wellington from Australia in July 1871.[1] Macdonald married Frances Rossiter on 15 November 1870 in Melbourne. They lost three sons within one month in 1876 during a scarlet fever epidemic.[1]
He was a founding member of the New Zealand Academy of Fine Arts in 1882.[2] Almost 100 years later, Inverlochy House, his former residence, was given to the academy.[3]
Political career
| Years | Term | Electorate | Party | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1890–1891 | 11th | City of Wellington | Liberal | ||
MacDonald initially made political impact in local government. He served for seven years as Government representative on the Wellington Harbour Board including 2 years as its chairman.[4] He was also a Wellington City Councillor from 1877 to 1878.[1] In 1899 he stood unsuccessfully for Mayor of Wellington against John Aitken.[5]
He represented the City of Wellington electorate from 1890 to 1891, when he resigned upon a bankruptcy claim.[6] He was in favour of a land tax and of more (rural) roads, and of ending the jobbery in dealing in native land.[7]
He contested the three-member City of Wellington electorate in the 1899 election, when he came fourth.[8] He considered standing in the Otaki by-election in January 1900, but the brother of the deceased incumbent consented to stand for the Liberal Party instead.[9] He was later appointed to the Legislative Council from 1903 to 1911.[6]
Death
Macdonald died on 17 October 1914 at the Porirua Lunatic Asylum where he had resided since November 1913.[1] The Macdonald family is buried at Bolton Street Memorial Park, and their grave is part of the memorial trail.[10][11]
McDonald Crescent in Wellington is named after him.[12]
