LUMSDEN, GEORGE (1815-1904) was born in Fifeshire, educated at the Kilrenny school in his native shire and served his apprenticeship with his uncle, a jeweller in Pittenweem. In 1836 he went to Edinburgh and worked for many years for James Whitelaw. Having married Christina Blackwood Anderson in 1842, he went into business for himself. In 1853 he came to Australia in the Ravenscraig and opened a shop in Geelong, but was soon attracted to the goldfields at Ballarat. Having little success, he returned to his shop in Geelong.

In 1861 Lumsden came to Invercargill. In 1866 he was elected to the Southland Provincial Council for Invercargill, which he represented until 1870, being a member of the executive in 1867 and 1868. After the reunion of Otago and Southland he continued to represent his constituency in the Otago Council until the abolition of the provinces. He was again in the executive in 1874-75 and for another term in 1875. Lumsden was elected to Parliament in 1876. After attending two sessions he found that the absence affected his business, and resigned (1878). He promoted the interests of his city in many ways, notably in the matter of education. He was one of the founders of the Southland Boys' High School (of which he was chairman for 14 years), and was a member of the education board and the land board. He died on 1 Feb 1904.

Southland and Otago P.C. Proc.; Southland B.H.S. Reg.; Cycl. N.Z., iv (p); Otago Daily Times, 12 Feb 1904.

Reference: Volume 1, page 271

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