Tom Seddon
| Tom Seddon | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of the New Zealand Parliament for Westland | |
|
In office 1906 – 1922 | |
| Preceded by | Richard Seddon |
| Succeeded by | James O'Brien |
|
In office 1925 – 1928 | |
| Preceded by | James O'Brien |
| Succeeded by | James O'Brien |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
2 July 1884 Kumara, New Zealand |
| Died |
22 January 1972 Wellington, New Zealand |
| Political party | Liberal |
| Spouse(s) | Beatrice Ann Wood |
| Relations | Richard Seddon (father) |
| Alma mater | Victoria University |
| Profession | Lawyer |
Thomas Edward Youd "Tom" Seddon (2 July 1884 – 22 January 1972) was a New Zealand politician of the Liberal Party, and a lawyer in Greymouth. He was the son of New Zealand's longest-serving Prime Minister Richard Seddon, and succeeded his father as MP for Westland following his death in 1906.
Early life
Seddon was born in Kumara in 1884. His parents were Richard and Louisa Jane Seddon (née Spotswood). He was educated at Kumara School, the Terrace School (Wellington), Wellington College, and Victoria University College.[1] He graduated in law, and joined the practice of John Findlay and Frederick George Dalziell,[1] and then became a barrister and solicitor in Greymouth. He married Beatrice Ann Wood on 15 March 1922 at St Mary's Church in the Christchurch suburb of Merivale. Guests at the wedding included Robert Loughnan, Joseph Grimmond, George Fowlds, and Joseph Ward.[2]
Political career
| Parliament of New Zealand | ||||
| Years | Term | Electorate | Party | |
| 1906–1908 | 16th | Westland | Liberal | |
| 1908–1911 | 17th | Westland | Liberal | |
| 1911–1914 | 18th | Westland | Liberal | |
| 1914–1919 | 19th | Westland | Liberal | |
| 1919–1922 | 20th | Westland | Liberal | |
| 1925–1928 | 22nd | Westland | Liberal | |
| 1928 | Changed allegiance to: | United | ||
He inherited the Westland electorate on the sudden death of his father Richard Seddon in the 1906 by-election after he had just turned 22. He held the electorate to 1922, when he was defeated by James O'Brien of the Labour Party. He won it back in 1925, but lost it again in 1928 when he was again defeated by O'Brien.[3]
He served in the New Zealand Army in World War I from 1915 to 1919. He was chairman of the War Pensions Board from 1930 to 1963.
In 1935, he was awarded the King George V Silver Jubilee Medal.[4] His son, Dick Seddon, was for several decades electorate secretary and organiser for the New Zealand National Party.[5]
Bibliography
His autobiography was published in 1968:
Notes and references
Citations
- 1 2 "The New Member". The Press. LXII (12545). 14 July 1906. p. 9. Retrieved 13 February 2015.
- ↑ "Women in Print". The Evening Post. CIII (62). 16 March 1922. p. 9. Retrieved 27 January 2015.
- ↑ Wilson, James Oakley (1985) [First ed. published 1913]. New Zealand Parliamentary Record, 1840–1984 (4th ed.). Wellington: V.R. Ward, Govt. Printer. p. 233. OCLC 154283103.
- ↑ "Official jubilee medals". Evening Post. CXIX (105). 6 May 1935. p. 4. Retrieved 17 January 2015.
- ↑ "King Dick Outlasted Winston Peters". Guide2.co.nz. 9 November 2008. Retrieved 13 February 2015.
References
 |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Tom Seddon. |
- Scholefield, Guy, ed. (1925) [First published in 1908]. Who's who in New Zealand and the western Pacific (2nd ed.). Masterton: Guy Scholefield.
- Who’s Who in New Zealand (1968, 9th edition)
| New Zealand Parliament | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Richard Seddon |
Member of Parliament for Westland 1906–1922 1925–1928 |
Succeeded by James O'Brien |
| Preceded by James O'Brien | ||