Hugh Finn facts for kids
Hugh Joseph Finn (born in 1847, died 18 December 1927) was an important person in New Zealand's history. He served as a Member of Parliament (MP) in the Otago region during the late 1800s. An MP is someone chosen by voters to represent them and help make laws for the country.
The Life of Hugh Finn
| New Zealand Parliament | ||||
| Years | Term | Electorate | Party | |
| 1879–1881 | 7th | Wakatipu | Independent | |
Hugh Finn was born in Kilkenny, Ireland, in 1847. He was the younger brother of Peter Finn. Hugh started his education at home. When he was twelve, he began attending Blackrock College near Dublin.
After that, he studied at a Jesuit College in Amiens, France. He then went to the Melbourne Church of England Grammar School in Australia. Later, he continued his studies at the University of Melbourne.
Becoming a Lawyer
After finishing his studies, Hugh Finn worked as a clerk for a lawyer named George Godfrey in Melbourne, Australia. He studied hard and passed his law exams. This meant he could become a lawyer himself.
In March 1874, Hugh Finn moved to New Zealand, arriving in Dunedin. A few months later, in August, he was officially allowed to work as a lawyer in the Supreme Court of New Zealand. He started his own law practice in Queenstown. He also managed a company called the Gladstone Gold-Mining Company.
In early 1875, he traveled around New Zealand with a judge named Robert Molesworth from Victoria.
Family Life
Hugh Finn married Lizzie McLean on 20 February 1877. Lizzie was the daughter of John McLean, who owned Kurow Station. They got married in Lawrence. In July 1878, Hugh and Lizzie had a son.
Entering Politics
In November 1878, Hugh Finn tried to get elected to a local council in the Kingston area. He didn't win that election.
However, he decided to run for a seat in Parliament in the 1879 election election. He was a supporter of George Grey, who was a well-known politician at the time. Hugh Finn was running against two other candidates: Henry Manders, who was already the MP for the area, and William Mason, a famous architect.
The voters in the Wakatipu area had a tough choice. In the end, Hugh Finn won the election. He became the Member of Parliament for the Wakatipu electorate in 1879. He served in Parliament until 1881, when he decided not to run again.
Later Years
After leaving Parliament, Hugh Finn moved to Gisborne, where he continued to work as a lawyer. He passed away in Tauranga on 18 December 1927.
