DODSON, HENRY (1830-92) was born in England, his father being an army officer. As a young man he went to Canada. He then spent some years on the Ballarat goldfields and in the fifties came to Marlborough, settling at Blenheim, where he established a brewery.

Dodson was in the Provincial Council (for Lower Wairau 1860-62; Pelorus 1862-63; Blenheim 1866-70, and Lower Wairau 1874-75). He led the Blenheim faction for some years. Having been a member of the Blenheim town board, he moved to have a borough created and was in the first borough council. In the following year (1869) he was elected mayor by popular vote and held office on four occasions (1870-72, 1883, 1884). Holding Liberal views, he represented Blenheim in Parliament (1881-90), defeating A. P. Seymour (1881), and J. Ward (1884). He retired in 1890 and died on 7 May 1892.

Marlborough P.C. minutes; Cycl. NZ, v; Buick, Marlborough (p). Portrait: Parliament House.

Reference: Volume 1, page 123

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