John Logan Campbell

For other people named John Campbell, see John Campbell (disambiguation).

A poster of John Logan Campbell

Sir John Logan Campbell (3 November 1817 – 22 June 1912) was a prominent New Zealand public figure. He was the son of Doctor John Campbell and his wife Catherine. He was described by his contemporaries as "the father of Auckland".

Early life

Logan Campbell was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, on 3 November 1817. He was the third son in the family, although his brothers all died before him. The first son, James Campbell died in 1819 and the second son also called John Campbell died in 1813. The surviving son (John Logan Campbell) graduated as a Doctor of Medicine from the University of Edinburgh in 1839, and sailed for New South Wales, Australia later that year as a surgeon on the emigrant ship Palmyra.

Migration to New Zealand

In 1840, he came to New Zealand, arriving first in Coromandel and then Auckland the then capital of New Zealand founded by Governor William Hobson. Campbell and William Brown (a Scottish lawyer) who arrived at the same time, were the first Europeans to settle in the area.

Logan Campbell and Brown built the first house in Auckland (Acacia Cottage, which still survives), and opened the first shop. He quickly became prominent in Auckland, both in business circles and in public life. He was a director of the Bank of New Zealand, the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, the New Zealand Insurance Company.

Superintendent of Auckland Province

Campbell began a career in politics in November 1855, serving as Superintendent of Auckland Province until September 1856.

Member of Parliament

Campbell entered the 2nd New Zealand Parliament (representing first the City of Auckland electorate and then the Suburbs of Auckland electorate). He was a minister without portfolio in the government of Edward Stafford between June and November 1856.

Later, Sir John Logan Campbell was elected Mayor of Auckland. He received a knighthood in 1902.

Cornwall Park

In 1901, during the visit of the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York, Logan Campbell donated Cornwall Park to the people of New Zealand and named it after the Duke and Duchess. Logan Campbell died on 22 June 1912. He is buried on the summit of Auckland's famous One Tree Hill, which he had named, in the middle of Cornwall Park.

External links

• Cornwall Park Trust Board's biography of Logan Campbell
• Biography in the 1966 Encyclopaedia of New Zealand
• Logan Campell's Auckland (book) [ISBN 978-1-86940-393-5]