John Joyce (New Zealand politician)

John Joyce (1839 – 1 December 1899) was a Member of Parliament for Lyttelton and Akaroa in the South Island of New Zealand.

John Joyce
Member of the New Zealand Parliament
for Lyttelton
In office
1887  1890
In office
1893  1899
Member of the New Zealand Parliament
for Akaroa
In office
1890  1893
Preceded byAlexander McGregor
Succeeded byelectorate abolished
Personal details
Born1839
Penzance, Cornwall, England
Died1 December 1899 (aged 60)
Lyttelton, New Zealand
Political partyIndependent, then Liberal Party
Childrenfour sons and six daughters

Early life

Joyce was born in Penzance, Cornwall in 1839.[1] As a boy, he worked in the deep sea fishing industry. He was made the master of a schooner at age 19. In 1854, he emigrated to Victoria and worked for the Water Police in Williamstown, Melbourne. He emigrated to New Zealand in 1861, to work for the Water Police in Port Chalmers. He was appointed clerk in the magistrates' court, before joining the legal firm of Howorth and Hodgkins in Dunedin. Joyce was admitted a barrister and solicitor of the Supreme Court in 1873. He found a partner in Mr. J. A. D. Adams, and they set up the firm of Joyce and Adams.[2][3]

He moved to Canterbury and started his own legal practice in 1879, with offices in Lyttelton and Sydenham. He was elected onto the Sydenham Borough Council and was the third mayor for the borough. Joyce moved to Lyttelton and was elected onto the Lyttelton Borough Council in 1885.[2][3]

Member of Parliament

New Zealand Parliament
Years Term Electorate Party
18871890 10th Lyttelton Independent
18901893 11th Akaroa Liberal
18931896 12th Lyttelton Liberal
18961899 13th Lyttelton Liberal

John Joyce represented Lyttelton (1887–1890; 1893–1899) and Akaroa (1890–93) in the New Zealand House of Representatives.[4] He was a "staunch supporter of the Liberal Party".[5]

Death and commemoration

Joyce died suddenly on 1 December 1899. He was in the midst of the 1899 general election campaign when he started to have heart problems. He saw a doctor in the morning, was prescribed rest, and died in the early evening during his sleep.[5]

His funeral was described as one of the largest ever in the colony, and was attended by several thousand people. Due to his previous involvement with the Canterbury volunteer forces, he was given a full military funeral. The railways estimated that they transported 400 soldiers and about 2500 others to Lyttelton to the funeral.[6]

Joyce was married in 1864 to a daughter of Mr. G. Coates (a jeweller from Christchurch), and he was survived by his wife, four sons and six daughters.[2][5] Joyce Street in Lyttelton is named after him.[7]

References

  1. "Index entry". FreeBMD. ONS. Retrieved 18 August 2017.
  2. "Lyttelton". The Cyclopedia of New Zealand - Canterbury Provincial District. Christchurch: The Cyclopedia Company Limited. 1903. Retrieved 13 March 2010.
  3. The New Zealand Liberals: The Years of Power, 1891-1912 by David Hamer (1988, Auckland University Press, Auckland)
  4. Wilson, James Oakley (1985) [First ed. published 1913]. New Zealand Parliamentary Record, 1840–1984 (4th ed.). Wellington: V.R. Ward, Govt. Printer. OCLC 154283103.
  5. "Obituary". The Star (6658). 2 December 1899. pp. Page 7. Retrieved 12 March 2010.
  6. "the Late Mr John Joyce". The Star (6659). 4 December 1899. pp. Page 4. Retrieved 12 March 2010.
  7. "Lyttelton road names and the histories behind them". Christchurch City Council. Retrieved 6 January 2011.
New Zealand Parliament
Preceded by
Harry Allwright
Member of Parliament for Lyttelton
18871890
18931899
In abeyance
Title next held by
himself
In abeyance
Title last held by
himself
Succeeded by
George Laurenson
Preceded by
Alexander McGregor
Member of Parliament for Akaroa
18901893
Constituency abolished
Political offices
Preceded by
Frederick Waymouth
Chairman of the Lyttelton Harbour Board
1895–1896
Succeeded by
Edward George Wright
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