DURIE, DAVID STARK (1804-74) was born in England and held a commission as ensign in the Scottish Fusiliers. He served under Sir Charles Shaw at the siege of Oporto in Portugal and was severely wounded while charging the heights of Antes in 1833. He later joined the British Legion for service in Spain (under Sir de Lacy Evans) and was again wounded at the battle of San Sebastian (1836). He gained his company in an infantry regiment commanded by the German Baron Rollenbach and was present at the storming of Irun in 1837. Durie received the order of Ferdinand (1st class).

Owing to his intimacy with other officers of the Legion, notably Colonel Wakefield and Dr Dorset, he joined the New Zealand Company and came to Wellington in the Adelaide (which arrived on 7 Mar 1840). Durie was appointed a captain in the Wellington militia in 1845, and served against Rangihaeata in 1846, being stationed afterwards at Waikanae. In 1851 he was appointed resident magistrate and sub-collector of customs at Wanganui and commissioner of crown lands for the Wanganui hundred. He retired from his official positions in 1868, and died on 26 Sep 1874.

Grimstone; E. J. Wakefield; Ward; Wellington Independent, 11 Jul 1868; N.Z. Times, 2 Nov 1868.

Reference: Volume 1, page 128

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