William Donald

William Donald (25 September 1816 – 29 June 1884) was a British-born New Zealand physician, public servant and politician. He was the first medical practitioner in Lyttelton, later becoming resident magistrate and chairman of the first municipal council.

Biography William Donald was born in London on 25 September 1816 to Scottish parents. His face was deeply pockmarked from a smallpox infection. He worked in Southwark and France after graduating as a doctor. He travelled to New Zealand in 1849 as the surgeon aboard the Cornwall, landing in Taranaki. coroner in March 1851, registrar of births, deaths and marriages in 1855, surgeon to the Canterbury Volunteers in October 1860, and Port Health Officer in 1864. He was resident magistrate for 20 years between 1861 and 1881.

Donald was a notable Freemason, founding the Lodge of Unanimity No 3 and serving as the Grandmaster of the Canterbury Region from 1868 until a few months before his death. He was also a member of the Odd Fellows and the Foresters.

Donald was medical officer to the Lyttelton Gaol in the 1860s, and was subject to criticism from prisoners in 1863, who wrote letters to the editor accusing him of "petty tyranny" for declining them beer. As magistrate, Donald also criticised the damp conditions of the gaol, and the treatment of prisoners.