HEPBURN, GEORGE (1803-83) was born at Leslie, in Fifeshire, Scotland. He was educated there and in Kirkcaldy, and went into business in the latter town. He was an elder of the Established Church in the congregation of Dr Alexander, whom he followed at the Disruption into the Free Church. In 1850 he came to Otago in the Poictiers, and in the following year he was appointed manager of James Macandrew's store in Dunedin. In 1859 he entered into business as a grain merchant in partnership with James Paterson, and after a successful experience of some years he sold out and went to reside at Halfway Bush.

In 1855 Hepburn was elected to the Provincial Council for Dunedin Western, which he represented till 1859, and he later sat for Wakari (1863-67). During part of the time he was chairman of committees. From 1866-69 he represented Roslyn in Parliament. He was a staunch Presbyterian, and in 1860 was one of the founders of Knox Church, of which he was an elder from the beginning. Deeply interested in Sunday schools, he was for over 60 years a teacher. He was also interested in secular education, and was for some years chairman of the Wakari school committee. Hepburn died on 9 Dec 1883. His daughter married W. Downie Stewart (q.v.), whose son, the Hon W. Downie Stewart, edited Hepburn's journals for publication in 1934.

Hepburn, op. cit. (p); Cycl. N.Z., iv; Otago Daily Times, 4 Jan 1884.

Reference: Volume 1, page 207

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