WAKEFIELD, DANIEL (1798-1858) was born in Essex, the son of Edward Wakefield and brother of Edward Gibbon, William, Arthur and Felix. Educated first at Haigh's school at Tottenham, he afterwards entered at Lincoln's Inn (1827) on the recommendation of his uncle, Daniel Wakefield, K.C., and was called to the bar. He practised for a while in London, and became interested with his uncle (Edward Gibbon) in the colonisation of South Australia. He was on the committee of the South Australian Association (1834) and assisted to draft the charter on the lines suggested by his uncle. Having married in 1835 Angela, daughter of Thomas Attwood, M.P. for Birmingham, he was an applicant for the judgeship in South Australia, but this failing he was dissuaded from joining the expedition and continued to practise in London. Emigrating to New Zealand in the forties, he practised at Wellington and Nelson. In 1847 he was appointed crown solicitor and crown prosecutor for the Southern province, and in the following year Attorney-general for New Munster and a member of the executive council and the Legislative Council for the province. He was acting-judge during the absence of Martin. Wakefield resigned his post as Attorney-general as the outcome of a disagreement with Governor Grey on the land regulations. He was a judge from 1855 to 1857, when he retired. He died on 8 Jan 1858.

Parltry Record; Ward; O'Connor; Harrop, Wakefield.

Reference: Volume 2, page 224

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