DUDLEY, BENJAMIN THORNTON (1838-1901) was born at Ticehurst, Sussex, the son of the Very Rev Benjamin Woolley Dudley (q.v.). Educated first at Marlborough College, England, he came to New Zealand with his parents in the Cressy (1850) and finished at Christ's College (1852-56), where he was head of the school and Rowley scholar. He joined the Melanesian Mission under Bishop J. R. Selwyn (1857), was ordained by Bishop Patteson (1861) but owing to ill-health had to retire from the mission (of which he was secretary from 1883). He was appointed curate of St Mary's, Parnell (1864) and vicar of Holy Sepulchre, Auckland (1865-97). In 1883 he was appointed archdeacon of Auckland and secretary to the Melanesian Mission, and in 1887 and 1897 he acted as commissary for the bishop. He was a member of the general synod for many years, and a governor of St John's College and was interested in the establishment of a college for Maori girls. He received the honorary degree of LL.D. from the Archbishop of Canterbury.

Dudley married (1862) Marion, daughter of the Rev J. F. Churton (q.v.). He died on 24 Apr 1901.

Cycl. N.Z., ii (p); Christ's Coll. List; Auckland Star, 24 Apr 1901.

Reference: Volume 1, page 127

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