LAHMANN, HENRY HERMAN (1816-90) was a native of the Free City of Bremen, Germany, where he was educated. As a young man he went to London, where for 19 years he was engaged in business. In 1853 he emigrated to Melbourne, and carried on business for eight years as a merchant and shipping agent. Attracted to Otago by the discovery of gold, he started a tobacco business in Dunedin in partnership with A. Helm. Four years later he followed the gold diggers to Westland and settled in Greymouth as a timber and general merchant, interested also in shipping.

Lahmann was a member of the first Greymouth town improvement committee, and represented his district on the Westland county council (1868), of which he was chairman until his defeat in 1872. He was also on the first Provincial Council (1874), of which he was speaker until the abolition. He then became a member of the county council under the new act. He was a member of the cattle and stock board and the Greymouth harbour board. In 1872 Lahmann was called to the Legislative Council (in view of the proposed immigration of German settlers). He died on 1 Jun 1890.

N.Z.P.D., 1872-90; Harrop, Westland (p); Westland C.C. and P.C. Proc.; Grey River Argus, 2 Jun 1890. Portrait: Parliament House.

Reference: Volume 1, page 256

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