TANCRED, HENRY JOHN (1816-84) was born at Boroughbridge, Yorkshire, a younger son of Sir Thomas Tancred, 6th baronet, and brother of Sir Thomas (q.v.). Educated at Rugby under Arnold, he enlisted in the Austrian army as a cadet in a hussar regiment, and saw many years of service in Austria proper, Hungary and Austrian Italy. He served in the suppression of the revolutionary movements of 1848 in Vienna and in Pesth, and took part in subduing the insurrection in Lombardy. While acting as king's messenger he sustained severe injuries by a fall from his horse.

In England on sick leave Tancred became interested in the Canterbury Association, to which another Tancred had lent his support in Parliament, and he resigned his commission in the Austrian army and purchased land in the projected settlement. At the meeting at which the Society of Canterbury Colonists was formed, in Apr 1850, it was stated that Tancred, Godley, and others had already gone to the Colony. In his absence he was elected to the committee of management of the Canterbury Association, and a member of the council of the Society. Tancred sailed in advance of the Canterbury pilgrims, met Godley at Wellington, and proceeded to Lyttelton in the Barbara Gordon (Dec 1850). Full of experience, and 34 years of age, he took a prominent place in the community. When the Society of Canterbury Colonists commenced to function as the Society of Canterbury Land Purchasers, Tancred was reelected to the council. Early in 1852 the society dissolved to make room for a body representing all of the settlers. Meetings were called in Lyttelton and Christchurch, and a society formed for each town. Godley was elected chairman at Lyttelton, and Tancred at Christchurch.

Tancred was a candidate for the superintendency in 1853. (It was stated by the FitzGerald party that he had been brought out to split the 'dear land' vote.) The election resulted: FitzGerald 135, Campbell 94, Tancred 89. When the first Provincial Council was elected Tancred was returned as one of the members for Christchurch Country district, which he represented until 1857. He at once stepped to the front in provincial politics. The first executive, of which he was president, held office until Oct 1854. He was again in office from Jul 1855 to 1857. Meanwhile he was called to the Legislative Council early in 1856, and was a member (without portfolio) of the short-lived Bell-Sewell executive, which stormily fought the question of responsible government in a discontented House (1856). He did not return to the Provincial Council for some years, but he was president of the executive (1857-58). In 1855 he was appointed resident magistrate at Lyttelton and Christchurch; keeper of the public records, sheriff, and commissioner of police. As sheriff he headed the petition to the General Government in 1855 for the deportation of Mackenzie (the sheepstealer). When the Stafford Government took office in 1856, Tancred remained out, but two years later Stafford invited his co-operation first as member of the executive, then as Secretary for Lands and finally as Postmaster-general. He administered all these portfolios until the Government was defeated (Jul 1861) over the Taranaki war. Domett called Tancred to office without portfolio, and he was a member of the cabinet (1862-63). In Parliament and in Council, Tancred spoke neither often nor long. "His mind, always firm and manly," says a biographer, "was perhaps of too judicial and philosophical a temperament to be well adapted to the rude, illogical, intemperate scuffle of modern politics." While yet burdened with cabinet responsibility, he found time during 1859, to carry out the duties of Hulsean-Chichele professor of modern history at Christ's College, an institution in which he took a fostering interest from the first.

In Dec 1863, Tancred headed another provincial executive, and in 1864 he returned to the Provincial Council as representative of Wainui. His administration lasted until 1866. He gave great assistance to Bealey in his superintendency, and on one occasion acted as his deputy. Returned to the Council for Lincoln (which he represented until 1874) he was elected speaker in Oct 1866 and held that post with great credit for the remainder of the life of the provinces. In 1874 he was returned for the City of Christchurch. Throughout those years Tancred's urbanity and patience were never ruffled. He maintained decorum and allowed no party differences to bring disrepute upon the provincial institutions. In 1871 he was again deputy-superintendent. Having retired from the Legislative Council in 1866 Tancred won the Ashley seat at the election in 1867, and sat for that constituency until 1869. He opposed the Vogel public works policy.

Though Tancred was not a university man, education was with him almost a passion. He was chairman of the first commission on education set up by the Provincial Council (1863). Both before and after this he watched carefully over the various education ordinances. He served as a member of school committees and education boards. He was a fellow of Christ's College for many years, and founded the Tancred scholarship; a governor of Canterbury College (1873-84) and a member of the School of Agriculture committee. When the University of New Zealand came into existence (1871) he became chancellor and held that high office until his death. His interest in cultural matters was lifelong. The Canterbury Society of Arts (founded 1880) owed much to him, and he was its first president. "A man of the strictest honour, independence of mind, public spirit, and proved capacity, his presence was welcomed in all business, public and private." He held many directorates of public companies, and was a member of the Christchurch drainage board and of more than one road board. For some years he was Austrian consul in Christchurch. In the early days he took up a run on the Ashburton in partnership with his brother.

Tancred married (1857) Georgiana, daughter of Lieut-colonel Mathew Richmond (q.v.). She died on 10 Jan 1913. Tancred's death occurred on 27 Apr 1884.

Canterbury P.C. Proc.; Gisborne; Godley, Letters; Cant. O.N.; Beaglehole; Acland; Burke, Peerage; N.Z. Chess Book, 1922; Cox; Saunders; Lyttelton Times, 28 Apr 1884; The Press, 10 May 1980 (p).

Reference: Volume 2, page 184

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