George Talbot

George Talbot (1834 – 3 February 1911) was the first mayor of Richmond in New Zealand from 1891 until his retirement in 1903. A farmer in the nearby Appleby, he was the inaugural head of the Borough of Richmond.

Early life Talbot was born in Wyke Regis in Dorset, England. He was baptised at baptised at Weymouth on 15 June 1834. Talbot and Frances Cox married at Weymouth on 4 August 1857. His wife was born in 1928 in Weymouth.

Community engagement Talbot was a member of a large number of organisations. He held membership of the Board of Education and for many year, he chaired this organisation. He was on the council of Victoria College in Wellington. He was treasurer of Nelson Harbour Board. He held membership of the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board. He was treasurer of the Agricultural and Pastoral Association. Talbot was a justice of the peace. The town board successfully campaigned for Richmond to become a borough. When Richmond Borough was formed in 1891, the nomination meeting for the first mayoral election was set for 8 July, but Talbot was the only candidate and he was thus declared elected without opposition. Talbot retained the mayoralty continuously until April 1903, He was unopposed at every annual election.

Private life and commemoration Talbot had a farm at Appleby Dorset House was registed as a Category 2 historic place in 1990. Their surviving children were six daughters and two sons. The other son became a dental surgeon.