DENNISTON, GEORGE LYON (1846-1934), a brother of Sir John Denniston, was born in Glasgow, and educated at the Glasgow, Greenock and Blair Lodge Academies. In 1862 he arrived in New Zealand, where he was engaged in farming till 1867, when he entered business in Dunedin. After being for 11 years managing director of Neill and Co. (1882-93), he established a business of his own. In 1884 he became Lloyd's agent in Dunedin, and in 1899 consul for Belgium in Otago, for which he was created a chevalier of the Order of the Crown of Belgium. He was a member of the Dunedin City Council (1897-1900) and mayor during the Royal visit (1901-02).

Denniston was several times president of the chamber of commerce, a director of the Westport Coal Co. and of the Otago Daily Times Co., president of the Dunedin Savings Bank, and commissioner of the Dunedin sinking funds. In sport he was a member of the first Otago interprovincial football team, and for a time president of the Dunedin athletic club. He married (1878) the eldest daughter of W. H. Reynolds (q.v.). Denniston died on 12 Jul 1934.

Cycl. N.Z., iv (p); Who's Who N.Z., 1908, 1924, 1932; The Dominion and Otago Daily Times, 13 Jul 1934.

Reference: Volume 1, page 117

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