Isaac Featherston

Isaac Earl Featherston (21 March 1813 – 19 June 1876), popularly known as the Little Doctor, was a New Zealand politician, known for his advocacy for the establishment of New Zealand self-government, and the importance of the provincial governments.

Biography

Early life and family Featherston was born in Newcastle upon Tyne, Northumberland on 21 March 1813, to Thomas Featherston and Jane (Earl) Featherston. Although he spent a significant amount of time playing sports, specifically football, as a youngster he was also quite academic and qualified in medicine at the University of Edinburgh in 1836. He arrived in Wellington in May 1841 on the New Zealand Company ship Olympus as surgeon-superintendent. and his Wellington superintendency, apparently wanting to return to England. Instead, he successfully stood for re-election in both positions within months.

Featherston was Colonial Secretary (forerunner to the modern Minister of Internal Affairs) in 1861, and a Minister without Portfolio from 1869 to 1871, having been appointed in both instances by William Fox.

Featherston was also heavily involved in the politics of Wellington Province. He was elected unopposed as the first Superintendent from 1853. He resigned from this post on 23 April 1858. He was re-elected on 28 June 1858 From 1871 he was the first Agent-General for the colony in London, the precursor to the High Commissioner.

The Taranaki Wars When war broke out in 1860, Featherston criticised the Government's handling of events, and lent his influence to tribal peacemaking and keeping much of Wellington Province out of the conflict. During the Second Taranaki War (1863–1866), Featherston raised auxiliaries of Māori, but they refused to fight unless he himself led them. Despite suffering from tuberculosis and at times being unable to sit on his horse, he indeed led them and accompanied Major General Trevor Chute on his west coast campaign and march to Mount Egmont. He led a Māori contingent in several engagements, notably at Otapawa, and later alongside Gustavus von Tempsky.

Legacy

In his many escapades Featherston had acquired great mana. He also left a political legacy in his eight daughters. They included: Laetitia, who married James Menzies; Kate, who married John Cargill; Frances, who married William FitzGerald (son of James FitzGerald); Alice, who married Sir Charles Johnston; and Octavia, who married Alfred Newman.

He was described as 'a quiet man with a soft voice, who appreciated a joke.'

The town of Featherston in the Wairarapa is named after him, as are Featherston Street in Wellington and Featherston Street in Palmerston North.