About John Valentine Smith
Lived 1824 – 1895 (aged 70–71). John Valentine Smith was a New Zealand politician.
John Valentine Smith (1824 – 10 February 1895) was a New Zealand landowner, militia leader, and politician.
Biography
Smith was born in 1824 at Malta, where his father was with the Admiralty. Smith received his education at public schools in England.
He was involved in Charles Enderby's scheme in the late 1840s of turning the Auckland Islands into a Crown colony for Britain. Enderby held the Queen's commission as Lieutenant-governor, and Smith as Enderby's secretary thus filled the role of colonial secretary. They sailed for the Auckland Islands from Hobart in November 1849 on the Samuel Enderby. The scheme was unsuccessful and abandoned after just over two years.
In circa 1883, Smith relocated to Pātea, where he died on 10 February 1895.
His son, Harold Smith, was a member of the 19th Parliament.
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Important facts
People in John Valentine Smith's life
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Contemporaries
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Frequently asked questions
Who was John Valentine Smith?
New Zealand politician (1824-1895)
When was John Valentine Smith born?
John Valentine Smith was born in 1824 in Crown Colony of Malta.
When did John Valentine Smith die?
John Valentine Smith died on 10 February 1895 in New Zealand.
What was John Valentine Smith's occupation?
John Valentine Smith was a politician.
What nationality was John Valentine Smith?
John Valentine Smith was New Zealand.
Sources & further reading
· Wikipedia: John Valentine Smith
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). John Valentine Smith. https://biography.guide/john-valentine-smith/
MLA: "John Valentine Smith." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/john-valentine-smith/.
Chicago: "John Valentine Smith." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/john-valentine-smith/.
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