REES, GEORGE (1810-58) was born in London, the son of a Thames pilot. He qualified in medicine and came to Port Nicholson in 1841 as surgeon in the Lord William Bentinck. Starting practice in Wanganui, he was shortly joined by his brother Joseph (1808-61), who, however, soon gave up medicine and farmed up the river. George Rees had a lucrative practice, and was also colonial surgeon and medical officer to the natives. He acquired a good deal of property in the town and district of Wanganui, and when he died (on 19 Sep 1858) he left a bequest of about £5,000 to establish an educational endowment, from which the Girls' College and the Technical College in Wanganui benefited.

Woon; T. W. Downes in The Index, Wanganui Tech. Coll., Nov 1913; Wanganui Chronicle, 20 Sep 1858.

Reference: Volume 2, page 108

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