# Albert Pitt > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Albert_Pitt > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Albert_Pitt.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albert_Pitt > Source revision: 1346673714 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) New Zealand politician For the English footballer, see [Albert Pitt (footballer)](/source/Albert_Pitt_(footballer)). The Honourable Albert Pitt 9th Attorney-General of New Zealand In office 22 June 1903 – 23 November 1906 Preceded by Patrick Buckley Succeeded by John Findlay Personal details Born 1842 (1842) Hobart, Tasmania Died 18 November 1906(1906-11-18) (aged 63–64) Christchurch, New Zealand Party Liberal Spouse Emma Bartlett **Lieutenant-Colonel the Hon Albert Pitt** (1842 – 18 November 1906) was a 19th-century New Zealand politician, and a cabinet minister. In 1914, eight years after his death, The Albert Pitt Memorial Gates were erected in the Queen's Gardens, Nelson.[1] ## Early life and profession Pitt was born in [Hobart, Tasmania](/source/Hobart%2C_Tasmania).[2] His father, Captain Francis Pitt, was harbourmaster at Hobart.[3] Pitt was educated in Tasmania. He studied law and started his professional career.[4] In 1864 Pitt migrated to Nelson, starting his own law firm. He returned briefly to Hobart to marry Emma Bartlett, daughter of Edmund Bartlett, [Launceston, Tasmania](/source/Launceston%2C_Tasmania) on 25 January 1866.[5] On his return to Nelson, Pitt appeared as an advocate for the defendants in the [Maungatapu murders](/source/Maungatapu_murders) case in mid-1866.[6] In 1868 he entered into partnership with Henry Adams, trading as Adams and Pitt. When the partnership with Adams ended he went into partnership with Edward Moore, the firm being called Pitt and Moore. ## Military service In 1861 he joined the [Hobart Town Artillery Company](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Hobart_Town_Artillery_Company&action=edit&redlink=1) and held the rank of sergeant.[7] After migrating to New Zealand, in December 1866 Pitt was appointed to command the Nelson Artillery Volunteer Cadet Corps.[8] In 1871 the corps was renamed the Nelson Volunteer Artillery Corps, with Pitt remaining its captain. On 8 November 1877 he was appointed Commander of the Nelson militia and volunteer district and given the rank of major. A position he held until elected to Parliament in September 1879. In 1881 Pitt commanded about 900 volunteers on active service at [Parihaka](/source/Parihaka) under Lieut-Colonel Roberts expedition to arrest [Te Whiti](/source/Te_Whiti_o_Rongomai), [Tohu](/source/Tohu_Kakahi), and Hiroki. In 1885 Pitt was appointed a Lieutenant-Colonel of the New Zealand Militia. When the volunteer districts were consolidated in 1895, Pitt was appointed to the command of the Nelson district. The volunteer district included Nelson, Marlborough, and Westland. Pitt was awarded the New Zealand long-service medal and the Imperial volunteer officer's decoration. In 1897, he commanded a contingent of volunteers from New Zealand that went to England for the celebrations of Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee. Pitt resigned his command on being called to the Legislative Council in 1899. ## Public service Pitt was also a member of the Nelson Diocesan Synod and a member of the Nelson College Board of Governors for many years. In his younger days in Nelson, Pitt was involved in theatre and amateur opera. ## Political service New Zealand Parliament Years Term Electorate Party 1879–1881 7th Nelson Independent In 1867 Pitt was elected to the Nelson Provincial Council and was appointed Provincial Solicitor.[9] He stood for the House of Representatives in an [1879 by-election](/source/1879_Nelson_by-election) but was defeated by [Acton Adams](/source/Acton_Adams); Adams was a *Secularist* and opposed denominational education as favoured by Catholics.[10] Pitt represented the [City of Nelson](/source/Nelson_(New_Zealand_electorate)) electorate from [1879](/source/1879_New_Zealand_general_election) to 1881, when he retired.[11] He became a member of the Legislative Council in 1899 and in June 1903 a member of the Seddon Government, as Attorney-General. He was the [Attorney-General](/source/Attorney-General_(New_Zealand)) from 1903 until his death at 5pm on 18 November 1906. Pitt had been appointed Minister in charge of the Christchurch Exhibition, but had become ill before it opened. He still proceeded to Christchurch where his health deteriorated, necessitating an operation on 13 November. Though reasonably successful Pitt's health did not improve and he died on the Saturday. He was survived by his son and two daughters, his wife having died of a heart attack on 31 August 1899.[12] ## References 1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["Pitt Memorial Gates"](https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/TC19140617.2.46.4). *Colonist*. 17 June 1914. p. 1. Retrieved 30 May 2018. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["Present and Past Members of Parliament | NZETC"](https://nzetc.victoria.ac.nz/tm/scholarly/tei-Cyc05Cycl-t1-body1-d1-d1-d3.html#name-134513-mention). 1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** "Advertising". *Colonial Times*. 10 September 1830. p. 1. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** "Obituary". *Star*. No. 8781. 19 November 1906. p. 1. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** "Family Notices". *The Mercury*. 27 January 1866. p. 1. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** "Charge of murder against Sullivan, Levy, Kelly, and Burgess". *Colonist*. Vol. IX, no. 916. 13 July 1866. p. 3. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** "Launceston Examiner". *Launceston Examiner*. 16 January 1864. p. 5. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** "Untitled". *Nelson Evening Mail*. Vol. II, no. 21. 25 January 1867. p. 2. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** "Nelson Provincial Council". *Colonist*. Vol. X, no. 741. 5 July 1867. p. 5. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** ["Nelson"](https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NOT18790201.2.8.3?query=Pitt&start_date=01-02-1879&end_date=01-03-1879&snippet=true&type=ARTICLE). *North Otago Times*. 17 May 1887. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-Wilson_11-0)** [Wilson, Jim](/source/Jim_Wilson_(librarian)) (1985) [First ed. published 1913]. *New Zealand Parliamentary Record, 1840–1984* (4th ed.). Wellington: V.R. Ward, Govt. Printer. [OCLC](/source/OCLC_(identifier)) [154283103](https://search.worldcat.org/oclc/154283103). 1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** "Obituary". *Colonist*. Vol. XLII, no. 9595. 28 September 1899. p. 1. Political offices Preceded by Patrick Buckley Attorney-General 1903–1906 Succeeded by John Findlay New Zealand Parliament Preceded by Oswald Curtis Member of Parliament for Nelson 1879–1881 Served alongside: Acton Adams, Henry Levestam Succeeded by Henry Levestam --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Albert Pitt](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albert_Pitt) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albert_Pitt?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.