Charles Bathurst, 1st Viscount Bledisloe

Charles Bathurst, 1st Viscount Bledisloe, GCMG, KBE, PC (21 September 1867 – 3 July 1958).

Early life

Born in London and educated at Sherborne School and then University College, Oxford, where he studied law and graduated with a BA in 1890.

Member of Parliament

Bathurst worked as a barrister and conveyancer and in 1910 entered parliament representing the Conservative Party as MP for the South or Wilton division of Wiltshire.

After serving as Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food, Bathurst was created a Knight (KBE) in 1917, and raised to the peerage as Baron Bledisloe, of Lydney and Aylburton. He remained in parliament until 1928, serving as Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries from 1924 onwards, and was a member of the Privy Council from 1926.

Governor-General of New Zealand

After leaving parliament, Lord Bledisloe was created a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George and appointed Governor-General of New Zealand, an office he held from 1930 until 1935, proving to be extremely well-liked and respected. His social conscience was much appreciated during the Depression era, as was his insistence that his salary should be cut as were the salaries of public servants at the time. Bledisloe also contributed to improved Pākehā - Māori relations, purchasing the site where the Treaty of Waitangi was signed and presenting it to the nation as a memorial. In 1934, the site was dedicated as a national reserve. The dedication ceremony attracted thousands of people, both Māori and Pākehā. Bledisloe continued to take an interest in the site even after his term expired and he returned to England. Bledisloe also contributed to the recognition of the Māori King Movement by developing a friendship with King Koroki and Te Puea Herangi, and his willingness to use the title "king" without reticence.

Bledisloe also promoted various causes and events by the presentation of trophies, the most famous of these being the Bledisloe Cup, the trophy for an ongoing rugby union competition between New Zealand and Australia, first awarded in 1931, and currently contested annually.

Upon returning to England in 1935, the title of Viscount Bledisloe, of Lydney was created and awarded to Bathurst. He continued to serve on a number of committees and councils, was awarded honorary doctorates from the universities of Bristol, Edinburgh and Oxford, and was made a fellow of University College, Oxford. Lord Bledisloe died, aged 90, at Lydney on 3 July 1958, and was succeeded as Viscount Bledisloe by his eldest son, Benjamin Ludlow Bathurst.

Sports

Upon its formation in 1888, Charles Bathurst was invited to become President of Lydney Rugby Football Club. He held this position for 70 years until his death and was succeeded as by his eldest son, Benjamin Ludlow Bathurst. The Bledisloe Cup and Bledisloe Park sports ground are both named for Bledisloe.

Styles

• 1867-1910: Charles Bathurst
• 1910-1914: Charles Bathurst, MP
• 1914-1917: Captain Charles Bathurst, MP
• 1917-24 October 1918: Captain Sir Charles Bathurst, KBE, MP
• 24 October 1918-1926: The Right Honourable the Lord Bledisloe, KBE, MP
• 1926-1928: The Right Honourable the Lord Bledisloe, KBE, PC, MP
• 1928-1930: The Right Honourable the Lord Bledisloe, KBE, PC
• 1930-1 January 1935: His Excellency The Right Honourable the Lord Bledisloe, GCMG, KBE, PC
• 1 January-28 June 1935: The Right Honourable the Lord Bledisloe, GCMG, KBE, PC, KStJ
• 28 June 1935-1958: The Right Honourable the Viscount Bledisloe, GCMG, KBE, PC, KStJ

Bibliography

• Marshall, Russell. 'Bledisloe, Charles Bathurst 1867–1958'. Dictionary of New Zealand Biography, updated 16 December 2003. URL: [1]

External links

• Lydney Rugby Football Club

v • d • e Governors and Governors-General of New Zealand William Hobson* · Robert FitzRoy* · George Grey* · Thomas Gore Browne* · George Bowen* · Sir James Fergusson, Bt* · The Marquess of Normanby* · Hercules Robinson* · Arthur Hamilton-Gordon* · William Jervois* · The Earl of Onslow* · The Earl of Glasgow* · The Earl of Ranfurly* · The Lord Plunket* · The Lord Islington* · The Earl of Liverpool* · The Viscount Jellicoe · Sir Charles Fergusson, Bt · The Viscount Bledisloe · The Viscount Galway · Cyril Newall · The Lord Freyberg · The Lord Norrie · The Viscount Cobham · Bernard Fergusson · Arthur Porritt · Denis Blundell · Keith Holyoake · David Beattie · Paul Reeves · Catherine Tizard · Michael Hardie Boys · Silvia Cartwright · Anand Satyanand * Held office of Governor of New Zealand.