Caroline Harriet Abraham

Caroline Harriet Abraham ( Hudson, later Palmer; 25 May 1809 – 17 June 1877) was an English artist significant in the history of New Zealand, creating a useful record of that country in the nineteenth century. She was the influential wife of a bishop and the mother of another. She put together a book, with others, supporting Māori rights.

Life Caroline Harriet Palmer was born and baptised in 1809 in Wanlip, Leicestershire, England. Selwyn appointed her husband to lead the multi-level educational establishment, St John's College, which he had founded in 1843. Her husband trained both Māori and European youths. Her only son, Charles, was born the same year and he went on to be the Bishop of Derby.

1862 panorama of St John's College in Tāmaki, New Zealand and Auckland Council They are an important source of information from this period. During the New Zealand Wars she advocated for the Māori. She wrote it with her cousin Sarah Selwyn, Bishop George Selwyn, her husband and Sir William and Lady Mary Ann Martin. George Selwyn was Bishop of New Zealand, and Sir William Martin was the Chief Justice. Abraham believed that the Māori people (then called natives of New Zealand and similar) were a proud race whose rights needed to be considered. This book was distributed privately after being printed in London.

In 1867 Abraham and her son returned to England in order for him to study at Eton. Three years later, her husband also went back to England as his friend George Selwyn was to be made Bishop of Lichfield.

Abraham died in Bournemouth in 1877.

Legacy She was the wife of a bishop and the mother of another. Her paintings and sketches are held in several collections in New Zealand. One of her sketchbooks is in Auckland Public Library and this records the influence on her of classically trained, but New Zealand artists like Albin Martin and John Hoyte.