COOTE, HENRY JOSEPH (1819-67). Born in London on 9 Jun 1819, Coote entered the Royal Military College in 1834, and received his ensigncy in the 22nd Foot (1836) with which he proceeded to India. As a lieutenant he served under Sir Charles Napier in the conquest of Scinde and was his aide-de-camp on the desert expedition to Emaunghur. He was at the battle of Meanee (1843) and acted as engineer in forming the line at Hyderabad, where he was the first man to enter the enemy's position and captured the first colour. 'The intrepid Coote' (as Napier described him) was severely wounded while leading his men out of a nullah. Promoted captain in 1844, he returned to England suffering from his wounds. He exchanged in 1848 into the 28th and later into the 36th Regiment, with which he saw service in the Ionian islands (1849-51). In the insurrection in Cephalonia in command of a company of the reserve battalion he defeated the enemy three times, and was mentioned by Sir Henry Ward for his energy and gallantry. Returning to England, Coote came to New Zealand as brigade-major at Wellington, where he arrived by the Northfleet (1852). Promoted major, he returned to England and retired in 1859. Having decided to come to New Zealand he sought sanction of the War Office to raise and train a special force for bush service. The matter being delayed, he sailed for New Zealand and bought the Carleton run, near Oxford, Canterbury, where he spent two or three years. He then sold out (1864) and purchased a property near Masterton, where he built a homestead. His health again failed and he had to give up farming. Coote was called to the Legislative Council by Weld (Jul 1865). In his first session, moving the address-in-reply, he expressed constructive views on the amalgamation of the pakeha and Maori races. He died at Wellington on 25 Mar 1867. He married in 1844 Rhoda Carlton Holmes, of Leominster, Sussex.

N.Z.P.D., 28 Jul 1865; R. Cannon, Hist. Records of 36th Foot, 1853; Wellington Independent, 28 Mar 1867.

Reference: Volume 1, page 105

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