Arthur Guinness (New Zealand politician)

He was born in Calcutta, India, son of Frank Guinness, who arrived at Lyttelton by the ship Tory in August 1852.[1] He was educated at Christ's College, Christchurch 1854–1859 (being no. 31 on the list).[2] He received his legal education from Edward Harston and then from Garrick and Cowlishaw,[3] before being admitted to the bar in 1867.[4] He then practised as a barrister and solicitor in Greymouth,[4] where he served on the Westland Provincial Council from 1874 to 1876,[5] and was then a member of the Grey County Council from 1876 to 1890, including nine as its chair.[4]

Guinness first stood for two-member Grey Valley in the 1876 election and out of the four candidates, he came last.[6] In his second attempt in 1884, he defeated the incumbent, Joseph Petrie, in the single-member electorate that was by now called Greymouth.[4] He remained a member of the House of Representatives for Greymouth until 1890, and then represented the Grey electorate until his death in 1913. He belonged to the Liberal Party.[7]

He was Chairman of Committees from 1893 to 1902,[8] then the 7th Speaker of the House of Representatives from 1903 until his death in 1913.[9] Upon the death of William Steward on 30 October 1912, he became Father of the House.[10] When he died, his replacement from the Grey by-election was Paddy Webb, who was elected on the second ballot with Liberal support.[11]

Arms granted to Guinness's
grandfather Hosea Guinness in 1814

In 1875, Guinness married Elisabeth Westbrook, daughter of Mr James Westbrook of Launceston.[1] He was knighted in 1911.[7] Guinness died on 10 June 1913 and is buried at Greymouth Cemetery.[12]

He was a great-grandson of his namesake the Dublin brewer Arthur Guinness (1725–1803).

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Arthur Guinness.

• The School list of Christ's College, 1850 to 1995 (9th ed.), Christchurch, [N.Z.]: Christ’s College Old Boys' Association, 1997
• Cyclopedia Company Limited (1897). "Mr. Arthur Robert Guinness". The Cyclopedia of New Zealand : Wellington Provincial District. Wellington: The Cyclopedia of New Zealand. Retrieved 17 July 2012.
• Who's who in New Zealand and the western Pacific 1908, Wellington, [N.Z.]: Gordon & Gotch, 1908
• Kitchingman, Frederick A. (1965), "Guinness and his days", Greymouth Evening Star, Greymouth, [N.Z.]
• Scholefield, Guy, ed. (1940). A Dictionary of New Zealand Biography : A–L (PDF). I. Wellington: Department of Internal Affairs. Retrieved 6 October 2013.
• Scholefield, Guy (1950) [First published in 1913]. New Zealand Parliamentary Record, 1840–1949 (3rd ed.). Wellington: Govt. Printer.
• Wilson, James Oakley (1985) [First published in 1913]. New Zealand Parliamentary Record, 1840–1984 (4th ed.). Wellington: V.R. Ward, Govt. Printer. OCLC 154283103.