Henry Tancred

Henry John Tancred (14 May 1816 – 27 April 1884) was a New Zealand politician.

Early life Tancred was baptised on 14 May 1816, on the Isle of Wight. His father was Sir Thomas Tancred, 6th Baronet and his elder brother was Sir Thomas Tancred, 7th Baronet. He was educated at Rugby School. He served in the Austrian army and fought in Austria, Hungary and Italy. He was severely injured in a fall from a horse and had a speech impairment as a result.

Political career

Provincial Council Tancred was one of three candidates for the role of Superintendent in 1853; he lost to James FitzGerald.

Tancred became a member of the Canterbury Provincial Council at its establishment in 1853 and retained membership until the abolition of provincial government in 1876. In 1866, he was elected speaker of this council.

Tancred was a member of three ministries. He was appointed as a minister without portfolio in the 2nd Parliament in the Sewell Ministry, from 18 April to 20 May 1856.

In the first Stafford Ministry, which Tancred joined on 5 August 1858 as a member of the executive council, he was appointed as Secretary for Crown Lands (19 August 1858) and three months later (3 November) Postmaster-General. He held those offices until the end of this government on 12 July 1861.

In the 3rd Parliament, Tancred was a member of the executive council of the Domett Ministry from 6 August 1862 until 6 February 1863.

Member of the lower house

Tancred was the Member of Parliament for Ashley in the fourth Parliament from 1867 to 1870, when he retired. He was buried at Barbadoes Street Cemetery on April 30. He was survived by his wife. There were no children from the marriage.