TOOMATH, EDWARD (1817-1885) was educated at the Battersea training institute, and after a few years soldiering taught in London and Northamptonshire schools. He came to New Zealand in the Cressy (one of the first four ships to Canterbury) as agent of the Society for the Promotion of Christian Knowledge, and taught in Lyttelton before settling in Wellington. In 1853 he was appointed to the Thorndon school, and in 1857 he founded private schools in Wellington and Greytown. He represented Wellington City in the Provincial Council (1856-61). Toomath was from 1871 to 1881 a member of the Wellington education board. He was an inspector of schools and both in and out of the Council he was one of the earliest advocates of free education. He later had a property at Kairanga, where he bred long-woolled sheep. He married (1850) Eliza Jane Battersby, of Cornwall, and died on 29 Apr 1885.

Cycl. NZ., i (p); Leckie; Ward.

Reference: Volume 2, page 199

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