Herbert Curtis

Herbert Evelyn Curtis (1818 – 10 August 1890) was a Member of Parliament in Nelson, New Zealand. He was also a merchant, in partnership with his brother Oswald.

Early life Curtis was born in 1818 in England. he migrated to Nelson in 1853, arriving on 18 June. Curtis married Annie Lineker on 4 March 1863 at Christ Church Cathedral.

Mahomed Shah The Curtis brothers had been passengers on the barque Mahomed Shah. The ship sailed from England for New Zealand on 15 January 1853. On 18 April, about south of Cape Leeuwin, the ship caught fire. All on board were rescued two days later by the brig The Ellen under Captain Pardon. The Ellen was sailing from Mauritius to Hobart, Tasmania. The ship's position was given as . Those rescued were taken to Hobart, arriving there on 6 May 1853.

Political career

He represented the Motueka and Massacre Bay electorate from to 1860, then the Motueka electorate from 1861 to 1866, when he retired. His brother Oswald was elected to the City of Nelson (New Zealand electorate) in 1866.

In the later years of Nelson Province, he was the provincial auditor. He was never elected onto the Nelson Provincial Council.

Death He died at his residence The Aspens in Nelson's Toi Toi Valley on 10 August 1890 aged 72. He is buried at Wakapuaka Cemetery.