Alfred Ransom

Sir Ethelbert Alfred Ransom (19 March 1868 – 22 May 1943) was a New Zealand politician of the Liberal Party, then its successor the United Party, and from 1936, the National Party. He was a cabinet minister from 1928 to 1935 in the United Government, and was acting prime minister in 1930 and in 1935.

Early life Ransom was born in 1868 in Lower Hutt. He received his education at Lower Hutt Primary, where he was school mate with Thomas Wilford. They lost an infant daughter and a son in 1902 and 1905, respectively.

Political career

Ransom was elected onto the Dannevirke Borough Council in 1901. He stood for Mayor of Dannevirke in 1903, but was beaten by the Lutheran pastor Hans Madsen Ries in a closely fought contest. Ransom was Mayor of Dannevirke from 1910, when he succeeded Ries, to 1919. but he died in 1943 before the end of the parliamentary term.

Later life In 1935, Ransom was awarded the King George V Silver Jubilee Medal, and he was appointed a Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George in the 1935 King's Birthday Honours. He died on 22 May 1943 in Dannevirke, where he is also buried. Ransom was survived by his wife, a son and a daughter. His wife died in 1952.