W. D. H. Baillie

W. D. H. Baillie
Portrait of W. D. H. Baillie
2nd Superintendent of Marlborough Province
In office 28 August 1861 – 18 February 1863
Preceded by	William Adams
Succeeded by	Thomas Carter
2nd Chairman of Committees
In office 1879–1902
Preceded by	Mathew Richmond
Succeeded by	William Cowper Smith
Personal details
Born	(1827-02-22)22 February 1827 Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada
Died	24 February 1922(1922-02-24) (aged 95) Maoribank, Upper Hutt, New Zealand
Occupation	Soldier, politician

William Douglas Hall Baillie (22 February 1827 – 24 February 1922) was a New Zealand politician. He was known as W. D. H. Baillie and often referred to as Captain Baillie owing to his military background.

Early life

Baillie was born in 1827 in Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada. His parents were Thomas Baillie from Scotland^[1] and his first wife, Elizabeth (née Monckton-Hall).^[2] His parents had married in 1824 in Limerick, Ireland, and later that year, Thomas Baillie had joined the Colonial Office, and had quickly been appointed commissioner of Crown lands and Surveyor General of New Brunswick.^[3] Baillie Jr. received his education at Royal Military Academy, Woolwich. He received a commission to the 24th (2nd Warwickshire) Regiment of Foot and spent six years in India, where he saw action in the Second Anglo-Sikh War, with battles at the Chenab River, at Sadoolapore, Chillianwala, and Gujrat. He returned to England in 1853 and was promoted to the rank of captain.^[2]

Baillie married Hannah Maria Ann Greensill on 11 July 1854 at West Thurrock in Essex. She was the daughter of John Greensill, and a cousin of Frederick Roberts, the latter of whom would make a career with the British army. The Baillies were to have three sons and one daughter.^[2]

Life in New Zealand

Baillie resigned from the army in 1857 and the family came to New Zealand on the Oriental. He initially had a sheep run of 5,000 acres (2,000 ha) in the Wairau Valley but sold the land at settled at Para near Picton.^[2]

Baillie was first elected to the Marlborough Provincial Council in 1860, when he represented the Wairau electorate.^[2] He was the second Superintendent of Marlborough Province (28 August 1861 – 18 February 1863) and the longest-serving member of the New Zealand Legislative Council; 61 years, from 8 March 1861 to his death on 24 February 1922.^[2] He was the second Chairman of Committees of the Legislative Council.^[4] From 1890, Baillie's vision deteriorated and later on, he was totally blind.^[2] His wife would bring him into the Legislative Council chamber and put him into his seat.^[5] He was last elected as Chairman of Committees in 1901 when he consented to stand in a ballot; the intention was to keep out the government nominee, William Cowper Smith. Once Smith was eliminated from the ballot, Baillie wanted to withdraw, but the Speaker would not allow him to speak over a misunderstanding. When the other remaining candidate, John Rigg, withdrew, Baillie was declared elected.^[6]

Hannah Baillie died on 12 November 1919 in Wellington.^[7] Captain Baillie died aged 95 at his daughter's residence in Maoribank, Upper Hutt, New Zealand on 24 February 1922.^[1] His funeral was held at what is now known as Old St. Paul's in Wellington.^[8] The Baillies are buried at Karori Cemetery.^[9][10] Two of his sons had died before him.^[1]

Notes

References

• Wilson, James Oakley (1985) [First ed. published 1913]. New Zealand Parliamentary Record, 1840–1984 (4th ed.). Wellington: V.R. Ward, Govt. Printer. OCLC 154283103.