Robert Trimble (politician)
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Colonel Robert Trimble | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1824 Belfast, Ireland |
| Died | September 5, 1899 (aged 74–75) New Plymouth, New Zealand |
| Children | 7 |
Colonel Robert Trimble (1824 – 5 September 1899) was an Irish-born New Zealand politician and judge who served as a Member of Parliament.
Trimble was born near Belfast, in 1824. He did his apprenticeship as a spinner at Sion Mills. He emigrated to the United States at age 21, where he remained for two or three years. While there, he was exposed to William Henry Channing's unitarianism, which he adopted instead of his presbyterian upbringing.[1] He then moved to Manchester and then to Liverpool, where he worked for the American linen commission merchants Watson and Co.[1]
In 1856, he married Jane Heywood of Manchester. She was the eldest daughter of Abel Heywood, who at the time was an alderman and later became the Mayor of Manchester.[1] Their son, William Hayward Trimble, became the first librarian at the Hocken Collections.[2]
While in Manchester, Robert became interested in the volunteer movement which caused him to join the Liverpool Irish. He then joined the 15th Lancashire Artillery Volunteers, where he financed an additional battery. He was appointed lieutenant-colonel and upon leaving Manchester, was promoted to honorary colonel. The leading personalities of Manchester attended his leaving dinner in 1875.[1]
Trimble settled with his family near Inglewood on 2,000 acres (810 ha) of land purchased from the provincial government, on which he established a sawmill.[1][2]