ARKWRIGHT, FRANCIS (1846-1915) was born at Church Mayfield, Staffordshire, the son of the Rev. Godfrey H. Arkwright, of Sutton Scarsdale, and great-great-grandson of Sir Richard Arkwright, the inventor. He was educated at Eton and held a commission for some time in the 100th Regiment (Royal Canadians). He was a J.P. for Warwickshire and the North Riding of Yorkshire, and lord of the manor of Churchover, Warwick. In 1874 he was elected M.P. for East Derbyshire, which he continued to represent as a Conservative until 1880. He then came to New Zealand and took up a property near Marton, which he called Overton.

Arkwright took an interest in New Zealand politics and stood for Rangitikei on two occasions as a supporter of Seddon rather than as a Liberal. In 1887 he was defeated by R. C. Bruce and John Stevens, and in 1890 by D. H. MacArthur. At the nomination in 1887 he protested against the 'meaningless sham of nomination at the hustings,' which he said had been abolished in England 20 years earlier, and he refused to address the electors first as required by the alphabetical order usually observed. Called to the Legislative Council in 1895, Arkwright moved the address-in-reply in the following session. He was a staunch supporter of Liberal legislation and made one of his best speeches in support of the old age pensions bill, warning members that though they might throw such a measure out again and again they would eventually be compelled to pass it. He was reappointed to the Council in 1902, and resigned four years later on going to reside in England. He died at Bournemouth on 1 Mar 1915.

Arkwright married first (1868) Louisa, daughter of Henry J. Milbanke, and second (1875) Evelyn Addington, daughter of Viscount Sidmouth. As a freemason he was the founder and first master of lodge Marton-Ruapehu (1885) and was grand master of the Wellington district (E.C.) from 1893-1900. During this period articles of recognition were made between the grand lodge of New Zealand and the united grand lodge of England. An accomplished French scholar, Arkwright made a translation of the memoirs of the Duc de St Simon which was published after his death. He once hunted a pack of harriers in Derbyshire; was a keen fisherman and a first-rate shot with both gun and rifle.

Hansard, 13 Dec 1897; A. E. Currie (information); N.Z. Chess Book, 1922.

Reference: Volume 1, page 25

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