SHORTLAND, EDWARD (1812-93), the third son of Thomas G. Shortland, was born at Courtlands, Devonshire. Educated at Exeter Grammar School and at Pembroke College, Cambridge, he graduated B.A. (1835) and M.A. (1839); then studied medicine, and was admitted an extra-licentiate of the Royal College of Physicians (1839). Attracted to New Zealand by his brother Willoughby (q.v.), he was appointed private secretary to Hobson (Jun 1841). In Aug 1842 he was appointed police magistrate and sub-protector of aborigines. He afterwards became protector, and in 1843-44 accompanied Colonel Godfrey as interpreter during the investigation of land claims in the South Island. He himself reported on many claims, and took a census of the South Island Maori. The substance of his researches and travels he published in England in 1851 under the title The Southern Districts of New Zealand. In 1854 he published The Traditions and Superstitions of the New Zealanders. Shortland became M.R.C.P. in England in 1860 and before returning to practice in Auckland he served in the Sicilian campaign and married a Sicilian lady. Thereafter he practised for many years in Auckland. He was a profound Maori scholar and besides his other books wrote Maori Religion and Mythology (London, 1882) and How to Learn Maori. He returned to England for good in 1889 and died at Plymouth on 2 Jul 1893.

His eldest son EDWARD GEORGE, born at Auckland on 2 Nov 1855, entered the Navy (1869) and attained flag rank in 1909. He had a distinguished career, mainly on the instructional side. After commanding several training vessels he was lieutenant in Admiral Lyon's flagship Swiftsure in the Pacific (1882-85); served in the Hyacinth in China (1889-92) and was promoted commander in the battleship Nile in the Mediterranean (1894). Captain in 1900, he commanded the Narcissus (1901-03), the cruiser Hogue in China and the battleship New Zealand in the Channel fleet (1908). In 1908 he was commodore commanding the Royal Naval Barracks at Portsmouth and in 1909 was promoted rear-admiral. There being no vacancy for a flag, he retired (1912). Volunteering for service in the war of 1914-18 he received the C.B. for his services as principal naval transport officer (1915). He was promoted vice-admiral 1915 and admiral 1918. Shortland married in 1898 Blanche, daughter of Vice-admiral Rombulow Pearse. He died on 7 Apr 1929. The second son, FREDERICK WILLIAM (1861-1925), was born at Plymouth, and practised law at Auckland, Taumarunui and in Otago. He was author of several legal textbooks (Police Court Practice and Procedure, The Family Lawyer, works on bankruptcy and Tales of Maoriland). He died on 27 Feb 1925.

G.B.C.P. 1845/247; D.N.B.; Shortland, op. cit.; Scholefield, Hobson; A. Mackay; N.Z. Herald, 19 Oct 1889, 28 Feb 1925.

Reference: Volume 2, page 152

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