Charles Wilson (librarian) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Charles Wilson
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Charles Wilson during the 1910s
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| Member of the New Zealand Parliament for Wellington Suburbs |
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| In office 23 April 1897 – 15 November 1899 |
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| Preceded by | Thomas Wilford |
| Succeeded by | Thomas Wilford |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1 January 1857 Harrogate, Yorkshire, England |
| Died | 9 February 1932 (aged 75) |
| Political party | Liberal Party |
| Occupation | teacher, editor, politician, librarian |
Charles Wilson (born 1 January 1857, died 9 February 1932) was an important person in New Zealand. He was a politician for the Liberal Party. He also became the first main librarian for the country's Parliament.
Early Life and Career
Charles Wilson was born in 1857 in Harrogate, England. His father, John Wilson, was a chemist. Charles went to Harrogate College. When he was about 18, he worked in the wool industry in England and then in France.
In 1879, Charles moved to New Zealand. He arrived in Port Chalmers on Christmas Eve. He first lived in Dunedin for a few months. Then, he got a job as an assistant teacher at Te Aro School in Wellington. Later, he taught at Wanganui Collegiate School for several years.
After teaching, Charles changed his career to journalism. He worked as an editor for newspapers like the Wanganui Chronicle and the Gisborne Standard. He also started and edited his own newspaper, the Marton Mercury. In 1892, he became the editor of the New Zealand Mail. This newspaper supported the Liberal Party.
In 1894, Charles Wilson married Lucilla Naomi Carter.
Political Journey
| New Zealand Parliament | ||||
| Years | Term | Electorate | Party | |
| 1897–1899 | 13th | Wellington Suburbs | Liberal | |
Charles Wilson tried to become a Member of Parliament (MP) in 1896 for the Wellington area. He was one of nine candidates but did not win a seat that time.
The Wellington Suburbs seat was won by Thomas Wilford in the 1896 election. However, Thomas Wilford was found to have broken a rule about how much money he could spend on his election campaign. Because of this, the election result was cancelled.
A special election, called a by-election, was held in 1897. Charles Wilson won this election for the Liberal Party. He became the MP for Wellington Suburbs. Interestingly, some people said that Thomas Wilford had been Charles Wilson's student at Wanganui Collegiate. Charles Wilson decided not to run for re-election in 1899. Thomas Wilford then won the seat back for the Liberal Party.
Leading the Library
In 1901, Charles Wilson was chosen to be the first chief librarian of the New Zealand Parliamentary Library. Some people thought this was a reward from the Liberal Government for his support of the Liberal Party.
One of his first big jobs was to move the library into a new building. This building was designed to be safe from earthquakes and fires. Charles Wilson was worried because the library was built next to the main Parliament Buildings, which were very old and could easily catch fire. He added more fire safety features, like bricking up windows and installing iron doors.
His worries proved right. On 11 December 1907, the Parliament Building burned down. Luckily, thanks to Wilson's efforts, the library's collection of books survived the fire. Only the roof and main entrance of the library were damaged.
Charles Wilson was friends with Harold Beauchamp. Harold's daughter, Kathleen, was allowed to use the parliamentary library. She found it a quiet place away from the busy life in Wellington. Kathleen later became a famous writer known as Katherine Mansfield.
Charles Wilson loved books and had his own large collection. He focused on making the parliamentary library even bigger. In 1918, the library received a huge gift from Alexander Turnbull. This gift included 55,000 books, maps, paintings, and more. The government bought Turnbull's house to keep this collection, which became the Alexander Turnbull Library. Charles Wilson was put in charge of moving this collection and helping it grow. He retired as a librarian in 1926 due to illness.
Other Activities
Charles Wilson was involved in many other groups. He was a member and vice-president of the Yorkshire Society. He also helped start the Savage Club in Wellington. He was a member of the Academy of Fine Arts and even served as its president. Charles Wilson was also part of the first council for Victoria University College. He was the chairman of the university council for two years.
After he retired as a librarian, Charles and his wife went on an eight-month trip around the world. They visited countries like France, Belgium, and Switzerland. He also represented New Zealand at the World's Press Union Conference in Geneva.
Death
On 5 February 1932, Charles Wilson was trying to catch the Wellington Cable Car. He tripped and hit his head. He was taken to the hospital but sadly passed away four days later. Charles Wilson was buried at Karori Cemetery. He was survived by his wife, three sons, and one daughter.
