George Stoddart Whitmore
Sir George Stoddart Whitmore | |
---|---|
Born | Malta | 30 May 1829
Died | 16 March 1903 Napier, New Zealand | (aged 73)
Allegiance | United Kingdom |
Service/ | British Army |
Years of service | 1847–1862 |
Rank | major general |
Relations | Esther James (great-granddaughter) |
Sir George Stoddart Whitmore
Early life
Whitmore was born on 30 May 1829 to a lieutenant in the British Army, stationed in Malta with the Royal Engineers, and his wife. His maternal grandfather was Sir John Stoddart, the Chief Justice of Malta while his paternal grandfather was General Sir George Whitmore. He also had several uncles serving in the British Army.[1] He was educated at Edinburgh Academy and then went on to the Staff College.[2]
Military career
Whitmore entered the British Army in 1847 as an ensign in the
Promoted to captain in July 1854, Whitmore was posted to the
In 1858, Whitmore attended Staff College but withdrew from his studies on account of health issues. He was later sent to Canada for a time to serve as aide-de-camp to the General Officer Commanding, Canada, Major-General William Eyre. He was able to resume his studies in 1860 and graduated from Staff College with top marks.[1]
In 1861 Whitmore was dispatched to New Zealand as military secretary to Lieutenant-General
New Zealand
On becoming a civilian, Whitmore settled in the
When the Invasion of the Waikato commenced in July 1863, Whitmore volunteered for Cameron's staff. He was present at the battles of Katikara and Orakau but played no active role in the war. He was also commander of the Hawke's Bay Colonial Defence Force. He left the country for a time in 1865 to visit England. While in London, he married Isabella Smith. His first wife had died a few years previously. There were no children from his second marriage.[1]
Tītokowaru's War
In 1866, he successfully led two hundred militia and volunteers at Omaranui, surrounded the gathering Hau Haus, who threatened destruction to the settlement of Napier, and cut off or captured them almost to a man. In 1868 he conducted a campaign against the celebrated Te Kooti, who had just escaped from the Chatham Islands, and drove him and his followers into hiding. A month later he was placed in command of the West Coast force, which had met with some reverses, and had to be recruited and reorganised. For some considerable time Te Kooti kept the country in a state of alarm. His successes brought many wild spirits to his standard, and he placed his fortress at Ngatapa, a wooded mountain whose summit is about two thousand five hundred feet above the level of the sea. It was said to be the strongest fortified post in the North Island. The massacre at Poverty Bay compelled the Government to send Colonel Whitmore to reduce this stronghold. He mounted the Siege of Ngatapa and after six days, the place was taken on 5 January 1869, and the enemy escaped with very severe loss. Returning to the West Coast, he led the colonial troops successfully from Kai Iwi to the Waitara, recovering all the country that had been abandoned and defeating Titokowaru's band in several engagements. Having completely pacified the West Coast, he was sent to put down the insurrection in the Urewera mountains, where Te Kooti had once more raised a body of followers.
This duty had been scarcely accomplished when a change in the Ministry occurred. Mr. Fox defeated Mr. Stafford, and at once removed Colonel Whitmore from the command of the troops in the field, just at the moment when complete success appeared close at hand. Te Kooti, being unpursued, was able to recover from the effects of defeat; and it was consequently eighteen months afterwards before he was again reduced to the same straits. In October 1877, Colonel Whitmore joined Sir George Grey's Ministry as Colonial Secretary, retiring in October 1879, with the rest of his colleagues. In 1870 he was appointed C.M.G., and in the 1882 Birthday Honours K.C.M.G.[4][5]
As a member of the Legislative Council, he was a member of the short-lived Stout-Vogel Cabinet in August 1884, as a Minister without portfolio.[4] The same combination coming back to power in September of the same year, he was appointed commandant of the colonial forces and commissioner of the armed constabulary, with the rank of major-general, conferred for the first time in New Zealand on an officer of the colonial forces.
Later life
After his resignation, Whitmore returned to his farm and resumed actively managing his estate. He also turned his hand to writing, authoring an account of his experience of the fighting with the Maori. This was published in 1902 as The Last Maori War in New Zealand Under the Self Reliant Policy.[2] On 16 March 1903 Whitmore died in Napier.[1] He had spent the previous few years in poor health after suffering a stroke.[6] He was buried in Napier Cemetery[1]
Notes
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Belich, James. "George Stoddart Whitmore". Dictionary of New Zealand Biography. Ministry for Culture and Heritage. Retrieved 23 April 2017.
- ^ a b c Foster, Bernard John. "Whitmore, Major-General the Hon. Sir George Stoddart, K.C.M.G., M.L.C." An Encyclopaedia of New Zealand. Ministry for Culture and Heritage. Retrieved 2 March 2018.
- ^ Scholefield 1950, p. 87.
- ^ a b Mennell, Philip (1892). . The Dictionary of Australasian Biography. London: Hutchinson & Co – via Wikisource.
- ^ Scholefield 1950, p. 37.
- ^ "Death of Sir George Whitmore". The Evening Post. Vol. LXV, no. 63. 16 March 1903. Retrieved 4 March 2018.
References
- Scholefield, Guy (1950) [First ed. published 1913]. New Zealand Parliamentary Record, 1840–1949 (3rd ed.). Wellington: Government Printer.