Josiah Hanan facts for kids

Quick facts for kids The Honourable Josiah Hanan
Josiah Hanan, ca 1908
10th Chairman of Committees of the Legislative Council
In office 7 October 1932 – 5 July 1939
Preceded by	Edward Henry Clark
Succeeded by	Bernard Martin
Member of the New Zealand Legislative Council
In office 17 June 1926 – 31 December 1950
Member of the New Zealand Parliament for Invercargill
In office 6 December 1899 – 4 November 1925
Preceded by	James Whyte Kelly
Succeeded by	Joseph Ward
23rd Mayor of Invercargill
In office 1896–1897
Preceded by	John Sinclair
Succeeded by	Hugh Mair
Personal details
Born	Josiah Alfred Hanan (1868-05-12)12 May 1868 Invercargill, New Zealand
Died	22 March 1954(1954-03-22) (aged 85) Dunedin, New Zealand
Spouses	Abigail Susan Graham ​ ​ (m. 1896; died 1898)​ Susanna Murray ​ (m. 1902)​
Relations	Ralph Hanan (nephew)

Josiah Alfred Hanan (born May 12, 1868 – died March 22, 1954) was an important New Zealand politician. People often called him Joe Hanan. He was a Member of Parliament, a cabinet minister, and a member of the Legislative Council. He also served as the Mayor of Invercargill and was in charge of the University of New Zealand for a time.

Early Life and Education

Josiah Hanan was born in Invercargill, New Zealand. He went to Invercargill Central School and Southland Boys' High School. He was a very good student. After school, he became a lawyer in 1889. He was known for being a skilled lawyer. He worked on many important legal cases.

Josiah Hanan's Political Journey

Josiah Hanan started his political career in 1894. He became a local councillor in Invercargill.

Mayor of Invercargill

In 1896, he was elected Mayor of Invercargill. He was the youngest person to become mayor there. He was also the first mayor of Invercargill who was born in New Zealand.

Member of Parliament

In 1899, Josiah Hanan was elected to the House of Representatives. This is where laws are made for the country. He represented the Invercargill electorate. He held this position for 26 years. He decided to retire from Parliament in 1925.

Cabinet Minister Roles

In 1912, Josiah Hanan became a cabinet minister. This means he was part of a small group of top politicians who helped run the country. He was the Minister of Education. This role meant he was in charge of schools and learning across New Zealand. He was also the Minister of Justice. This role involved overseeing the country's legal system.

During World War I, he continued to serve in the government. He held the education role from 1915 to 1919. He was also Minister of Justice again in 1917.

Legislative Council Member

After leaving the House of Representatives in 1925, Josiah Hanan was appointed to the Legislative Council. This was another part of New Zealand's Parliament at the time. He stayed in this position until the Council was closed down in 1950. From 1932 to 1939, he was the Chairman of Committees for the Legislative Council.

Family Life and Later Years

Josiah Hanan married Abigail Susan Graham in 1896. Sadly, she passed away in 1898. Later, in 1902, he married Susanna Murray. They had two sons together.

When Parliament was in session, the family would live in Wellington. Their sons went to boarding school there. After Josiah retired from Parliament in 1925, the family moved to Dunedin. Their sons were attending university in Dunedin at that time.

Josiah's brother, James Albert Hanan, had a son named Ralph Hanan. Ralph later followed in his uncle's footsteps. He became Mayor of Invercargill and also represented Invercargill in Parliament. Ralph held several important roles in the New Zealand government too.

Josiah Hanan passed away in Dunedin on March 22, 1954. He was survived by his sons and his wife, Susanna. Susanna Hanan died later, on February 12, 1970, also in Dunedin.