# Thomas Gillies

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New Zealand politician (1828–1889)

Thomas Gillies 4th Attorney-General of New Zealand In office 6 August 1862 – 23 August 1862 Prime Minister Alfred Domett Preceded by Henry Sewell Succeeded by Henry Sewell 4th Postmaster-General In office 30 October 1863 – 24 November 1864 Prime Minister Frederick Whitaker Preceded by Crosbie Ward Succeeded by John Richardson 7th Superintendent of Auckland Province In office 2 December 1869 – November 1873 Preceded by John Williamson Succeeded by John Williamson Personal details Born Thomas Bannatyne Gillies (1828-01-17)17 January 1828 Rothesay, Isle of Bute, Scotland Died 26 July 1889(1889-07-26) (aged 61) Rocklands, Gillies Ave, Epsom, Auckland Resting place St Andrew's Cemetery, Epsom Occupation Lawyer, politician

**Thomas Bannatyne Gillies** (17 January 1828 – 26 July 1889) was a 19th-century New Zealand lawyer, judge and politician.

## Early life

He was born at [Rothesay](/source/Rothesay%2C_Bute) on the [Isle of Bute](/source/Isle_of_Bute), [Scotland](/source/Scotland), on 17 January 1828. He was the eldest of nine children of John Gillies, local lawyer and town clerk, and his wife, Isabella Lillie, daughter of a Glasgow businessman and granddaughter of a [Huguenot](/source/Huguenot) refugee. Determined to train as a mechanical engineer, he was forced by his father to study law and trained in his father's practice for four years. He then went to [Manchester](/source/Manchester), where he worked for Robert Barbour and Sons, with his next brother [John](/source/John_Lillie_Gillies) taking his place in his father's firm. The two brothers intended to join the [California Gold Rush](/source/California_Gold_Rush) but their father did not allow them to do so, and John emigrated to Australia instead in about 1850. John Gillies senior was so committed with various duties that his health suffered and after long discussions, it was agreed to emigrate to [Otago](/source/Otago), New Zealand.[1]

On 1 June 1852, Thomas Gillies married Catherine Douglas at [Newcastle upon Tyne](/source/Newcastle_upon_Tyne). The whole family, including their brother [Robert Gillies](/source/Robert_Gillies_(New_Zealand_politician)), left for New Zealand on 24 July on the *Slains Castle*.[1][2][3] They were soon joined in Otago by John Gillies Jr., who came over from Australia.[1]

## Career

### Professional

Gillies joined the practise of his father John Gillies and [John Hyde Harris](/source/John_Hyde_Harris) in July 1857.[4] In the 1860s, he ran a law practice in Dunedin with [William Richmond](/source/William_Richmond_(politician)), a fellow (ex) MP.[5]

### Political

New Zealand Parliament Years Term Electorate Party 1860 2nd Dunedin Country Independent 1861–1865 3rd Bruce Independent 1870 4th Mongonui Independent 1871–1875 5th Auckland West Independent

He was the Member of Parliament for [Dunedin Country](/source/Dunedin_Country) from 1860 (after a by-election), then [Bruce](/source/Bruce_(New_Zealand_electorate)) 1861 to 1865; two electorates in the South Island.[6] While he had been a cabinet minister in the [Domett Ministry](/source/Domett_Ministry%2C_1862%E2%80%931863) (August 1862) and then the [Whitaker–Fox Ministry](/source/Whitaker%E2%80%93Fox_Ministry%2C_1863%E2%80%931864) (October 1863 – November 1864),[7] he was a strong [separationist](/source/South_Island_nationalism#The_provincial_period), but did not get majority support in the ministries or from parliament as a whole, and he resigned his parliamentary seat in early 1865 as he could not achieve separation of the [South Island](/source/South_Island). He first talked about having resigned in public on 6 January 1865 but the resignation did not take effect until 3 March of that year.[6][8]

Gillies then represented [Mongonui](/source/Mongonui_(New_Zealand_electorate)) 1870 (elected 30 March 1870; Parliament dissolved 30 December 1870) then [Auckland West](/source/Auckland_West) 1871 to 1875 (resigned); two electorates in the North Island.[6]

He was the seventh [Superintendent](/source/Superintendent_(New_Zealand)) of [Auckland Province](/source/Auckland_Province) from 1869 to 1873.[9]

He was a cabinet minister, and held the positions of [Attorney-General](/source/Attorney-General_(New_Zealand)) (August 1862) in the [Domett Ministry](/source/Domett_Ministry%2C_1862%E2%80%931863), Postmaster-General and Secretary for Crown Lands (1863–1864) in the [Whitaker–Fox Ministry](/source/Whitaker%E2%80%93Fox_Ministry%2C_1863%E2%80%931864), and [Colonial Treasurer](/source/Minister_of_Finance_(New_Zealand)) (1872) in the [third Stafford Ministry](/source/Stafford_Ministry%2C_1872).[10]

### Science

Gillies and [Frederick Wollaston Hutton](/source/Frederick_Wollaston_Hutton) initiated the public meeting of 6 November 1867, to establish the Auckland Philosophical Society, soon renamed [Auckland Institute](/source/Auckland_Institute_and_Museum), following a conversation they'd had about the [General Assembly's](/source/New_Zealand_Parliament) efforts in forming the [New Zealand Institute](/source/Royal_Society_Te_Ap%C4%81rangi). When Gillies had visited Wellington, [James Hector](/source/James_Hector), manager of the institute, had suggested the appropriateness of establishing branches throughout New Zealand, especially in Auckland. In consequence, the newly formed Auckland Institute was incorporated with the New Zealand Institute on 10 June 1868. Gillies served as president of the Auckland Institute in 1869, with the transfer of Auckland Museum to the Auckland Institute in October 1869, as well as in 1873 and 1876.[11][12][13][14][15] He also contributed papers on scientific matters to the Auckland Institute and New Zealand Institute.

He died in his home, *Rocklands*, in Gillies Avenue, Epsom, following an apoplectic seizure on 26 July 1889.[16][17][18][19][20][21] Gillies's first wife, Catherine, died in 1865; he married secondly, in 1867, Agnes (d. 1884), daughter of John Sinclair, of Glasgow, niece of [Andrew Sinclair](/source/Andrew_Sinclair_(botanist)), second Colonial Secretary of New Zealand, and sister-in-law of [David Bruce](/source/David_Bruce_(minister)). He had six children altogether from both marriages.[22][23]

## Publications

- Gillies, Thomas Bannatyne (1868). ["Notes on Land and Fresh-water Shells Collected in the Northern Part of the Province of Auckland, During the Month of April, 1868"](https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/periodicals/TPRSNZ1868-1.2.14). *Proceedings of the Auckland Institute*: 60–61.

- Gillies, Thomas Bannatyne (1871). ["Art. IX.—On the Occurrence of Footprints of the Moa at Poverty Bay"](https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/periodicals/TPRSNZ1871-4.2.6.1.2.9). *Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute*. **4**: 127–128.

- Gillies, Thomas Bannatyne (1879). ["Art. LIII.—Notes on the Growth of Certain Trees on Scoria Soil Near Mount Eden, Auckland"](https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/periodicals/TPRSNZ1879-12.2.7.1.53). *Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute*. **12**: 357.

- Gillies, Thomas Bannatyne (1882). ["Art. XXXIII.—Further Notes on *Sorghum* Experiments"](https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/periodicals/TPRSNZ1882-15.2.5.1.33). *Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute*. **15**: 261–267.

- Gillies, Thomas Bannatyne (1882). ["Art. XXXIV.—On the Growth of the Cork Oak in Auckland"](https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/periodicals/TPRSNZ1882-15.2.5.1.34). *Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute*. **15**: 267.

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-DNZB_Gillies_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-DNZB_Gillies_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-DNZB_Gillies_1-2) Rennie, Hugh. ["Gillies, Thomas Bannatyne"](https://teara.govt.nz/en/biographies/1G9). *[Dictionary of New Zealand Biography](/source/Dictionary_of_New_Zealand_Biography)*. [Ministry for Culture and Heritage](/source/Ministry_for_Culture_and_Heritage). Retrieved 29 April 2013.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Evening_Post_obit_(Robert)_2-0)** ["In Memoriam. Robert Gillies"](https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&d=EP18860615.2.41). *[The Evening Post](/source/The_Evening_Post_(New_Zealand))*. Vol. 32, no. 24. 15 June 1886. p. 3. Retrieved 19 February 2011.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Bruce_Herald_obit_(Robert)_3-0)** ["The Late Robert Gillies"](https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&d=BH18860618.2.12). *Bruce Herald*. Vol. 17, no. 1759. 18 June 1886. p. 3. Retrieved 19 February 2011.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["Dissolution of Partnership; Co-Partnership"](http://slbplone.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&d=OW18570725.2.7.3). *[Otago Witness](/source/Otago_Witness)*. No. 295. 25 July 1857. p. 4. Retrieved 6 October 2010.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Te_Ara_(1966)_5-0)** [McLintock, A. H.](/source/Alexander_Hare_McLintock), ed. (22 April 2009) [originally published in 1966]. "Gillies, Thomas Bannatyne". [*An Encyclopaedia of New Zealand*](https://www.teara.govt.nz/en/1966/gillies-thomas-bannatyne/1). Ministry for Culture and Heritage / Te Manatū Taonga. Retrieved 6 October 2010.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEWilson1985199_6-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEWilson1985199_6-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEWilson1985199_6-2) [Wilson 1985](#CITEREFWilson1985), p. 199.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEWilson198561f_7-0)** [Wilson 1985](#CITEREFWilson1985), pp. 61f.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["Separation"](https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/OW18650114.2.12?query=gillies%20resigned). *[Otago Witness](/source/Otago_Witness)*. No. 685. 14 January 1865. p. 5. Retrieved 18 January 2017.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEScholefield1950179_9-0)** [Scholefield 1950](#CITEREFScholefield1950), p. 179.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEWilson198562,_64_10-0)** [Wilson 1985](#CITEREFWilson1985), pp. 62, 64.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** ["New Zealand Society"](https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/DSC18671107.2.15). *The Daily Southern Cross*. Vol. 23, no. 3217. 7 November 1867. p. 3 – via [Papers Past](/source/Papers_Past).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** ["Philosophical Society"](https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/DSC18680207.2.24). *Daily Southern Cross*. Vol. 24, no. 3295. 7 February 1868. p. 3.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-AI&M1869_13-0)** [*The Annual Meeting of the Members held at the Museum Feb 15th–1869: First Annual Report*](https://ia801005.us.archive.org/14/items/AklMuseum_AnnualReport_1868/aim_ann_report_1868.ocr.pdf) (PDF), Auckland Institute, 1869

1. **[^](#cite_ref-NZH18691019.2.14_14-0)** ["Auckland Institute"](https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZH18691019.2.14). *The New Zealand Herald*. Vol. 6, no. 1798. 19 October 1869. p. 3.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-15)** [*Annual Report: Auckland Institute*](https://ia903105.us.archive.org/20/items/AklMuseum_AnnualReport_1869/aim_ann_report_1869.ocr.pdf) (PDF), Auckland Institute, 1870

1. **[^](#cite_ref-16)** ["Death"](https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/MEX18890726.2.8). Marlborough Express. 26 July 1889 – via [Papers Past](/source/Papers_Past).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-17)** ["Death"](https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/AS18890727.2.41?query=Gillies&page=2&start_date=25-07-1889&end_date=31-07-1889&snippet=true&type=ARTICLE). *[Auckland Star](/source/Auckland_Star)*. 27 July 1889 – via [Papers Past](/source/Papers_Past).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-18)** ["Obituary"](https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZH18890812.2.48.3). *[The New Zealand Herald](/source/The_New_Zealand_Herald)*. Vol. 26, no. 9441. 12 August 1889. p. 10 – via [Papers Past](/source/Papers_Past).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-19)** ["Obituary"](https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/TS18890727.2.35). *[Auckland Star](/source/Auckland_Star)*. 27 July 1889 – via [Papers Past](/source/Papers_Past).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-20)** ["Obituary"](https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZTIM18890727.2.32). *[The New Zealand Times](/source/The_New_Zealand_Times)*. 27 July 1889 – via [Papers Past](/source/Papers_Past).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-21)** ["Obituary"](https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZTIM18890727.2.32). *[Otago Daily Times](/source/Otago_Daily_Times)*. 27 July 1889 – via [Papers Past](/source/Papers_Past).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-22)** Debrett's House of Commons and the Judicial Bench, ed. R. H. Mair, Debrett's, 1885, p. 419

1. **[^](#cite_ref-23)** ["Gillies, Thomas Bannatyne"](https://teara.govt.nz/en/biographies/1g9/gillies-thomas-bannatyne).

## Sources

- [Scholefield, Guy](/source/Guy_Scholefield) (1950) [First published in 1913]. *New Zealand Parliamentary Record, 1840–1949* (3rd ed.). Wellington: Govt. Printer.

- [Wilson, Jim](/source/Jim_Wilson_(librarian)) (1985) [First published in 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).

Political offices Preceded by Henry Sewell Attorney-General 1862 Succeeded by Henry Sewell Preceded by Crosbie Ward Postmaster-General 1863–1864 Succeeded by John Richardson Preceded by John Williamson Superintendent of Auckland Province 1869–1873 Succeeded by John Williamson New Zealand Parliament Preceded by William Cargill Member of Parliament for Dunedin Country 1860 Served alongside: John Parkin Taylor Constituency abolished New constituency Member of Parliament for Bruce 1861–1865 Served alongside: Charles Kettle, Edward Cargill Succeeded by Arthur John Burns Preceded by Thomas Ball Member of Parliament for Mongonui 1870 Succeeded by John McLeod Preceded by Patrick Dignan Member of Parliament for Auckland West 1871–1875 Served alongside: John Williamson Succeeded by George Grey

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Thomas Gillies](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Gillies) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Gillies?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.