Acton Adams facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Acton Adams
Member of the New Zealand Parliament for Nelson
In office 1879–1881
Preceded by	John Sharp
Succeeded by	Henry Levestam
Personal details
Born	William Acton Blakeway Adams 1843 Wilden Manor, Tenbury Wells, Worcestershire, England
Died	24 January 1924 (aged 80) Knightsbridge, London, England
Spouse	Harriette Frances Leadam ​ (m. 1869)​
Relations	William Adams (father)
Profession	Lawyer

William Acton Blakeway Adams (1843 – 24 January 1924), often called Acton Adams, was an important New Zealand politician and lawyer in the 1800s. He was a Member of Parliament (MP) for the Nelson area. An MP is someone elected to represent a group of people in the country's main law-making body.

Early Life and Family

Acton Adams was born in England in 1843. His family lived at a place called Wilden Manor. His father, also named William Adams, was a lawyer in England.

In 1850, when Acton was about seven years old, his family moved to New Zealand. They sailed on a ship called the Eden and settled in Nelson. His father bought large sheep farms in the Wairau area, which is now called Marlborough.

Acton's father became a very important person in Marlborough. He was the first leader, or "Superintendent," of the Marlborough region. He also helped manage Crown Lands and was an MP for Picton. After his father left politics, he went back to being a lawyer in Nelson.

School and Legal Career

Acton Adams went to Nelson College from 1857 to 1859. He was a top student, becoming the Head Boy of the school. He was also the captain of the cricket team.

After school, Acton helped manage his family's sheep farms. In 1862, he started working at his father's law firm. He officially became a lawyer in 1867. That same year, he traveled to London, England, to study law further. While there, he married Harriette Frances Leadam in 1869.

When he returned to Nelson in 1869, he became a junior partner in his father's law firm. Later, Acton also bought a large sheep farm called Tarndale.

Political Journey

Acton Adams was involved in politics from a young age. From 1873 to 1876, he represented the Nelson area in the Nelson Provincial Council. This was a local government body that helped manage the region. He was also the leader of the group that opposed the government at the time.

In 1879, Acton Adams was elected to the New Zealand House of Representatives. This is the main group of MPs who make laws for the whole country. He won a special election for the Nelson area. He supported Sir John Hall, who later became the Prime Minister.

Acton Adams was re-elected in 1879. However, in 1881, he became very ill. His doctors thought he might not get better, so he decided to leave Parliament. He also stepped down from his law firm. His brother, Percy Adams, took over his role.

Supporting Railways

Acton Adams was a big supporter of building railways in New Zealand. In 1872, he suggested a way to build a railway line between Nelson and the West Coast. He thought they could use land grants to help pay for it.

In 1885, Acton Adams moved to Christchurch. There, he joined a group that wanted a railway line connecting Christchurch with Nelson. He became the chairman of this group, called the East and West Coast and Nelson Railway League. His hard work helped create the Midland Railway Company, which built important railway lines.

Life in Christchurch

After leaving Parliament due to illness, Acton Adams traveled to Europe with his family to get better. In 1883, he returned to New Zealand and settled in Christchurch. He had promised not to practice law in Nelson when he resigned from his old firm.

In Christchurch, Acton Adams started a new law firm. He also continued his interest in sheep farming. He bought several large farms, including Molesworth Station and Tipapa Estate. He worked to improve the land by changing thousands of acres of tussock grasslands into pastures for sheep.

Rabbit Challenges and Later Years

Around 1890, a huge number of rabbits invaded the Amuri region. These rabbits caused a lot of damage to the farms, almost ruining the sheep runs. Acton Adams suffered big financial losses because of this. He spent most of his time fighting the rabbits and dealing with the money problems they caused. This meant he had to step back from his law career.

Acton Adams was one of the largest landowners in the Marlborough and Canterbury regions, with about 75,000 sheep. He later moved back to London, England. Even there, he remained very interested in New Zealand. He was part of important groups like the Royal Colonial Institute.

Acton Adams had three sons named Herbert, Reginald, and Percy, and one daughter named Adine. He passed away in London on January 24, 1924, after a long illness. He was 80 years old.