PIERCE, GEORGE PATRICK (1825-91) was a son of Captain George Pierce, R.N., and was born at Plymouth but educated in Ireland. He was apprenticed to the publishing house of Smith, Elder and Co., came to Auckland in 1856 and became a partner in the firm of Bain, Pierce and Co. Some years later he retired to become local manager and eventually general manager of the New Zealand Insurance Co. He was a prominent freemason and churchman. In 1865, with four others, he undertook to build St Sepulchre's Church (under the direction of Selwyn). He was for years vestryman and churchwarden, diocesan trustee, diocesan and general synodsman, an assessor of the bishop's court and secretary of the orphans' home. In freemasonry he was master of the Ara lodge and provincial grand master under the Irish constitution.

Pierce married (1870) Eleanor, daughter of William Connell. He died on 17 May 1891.

Cycl. N.Z., ii (p); N.Z. Herald, 22 May 1891.

Reference: Volume 2, page 86

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