RICHMOND, HENRY ROBERT (1829-90) was born in London, the youngest of a family of four. His father, a barrister of considerable ability and reputation in the conveyancing department of the High Court of Chancery, died early. His mother (née Wilson) was the daughter of a shipbuilder at Stockton-on-Tees. As a boy Henry spent some months with the family at Argelès, in the Pyrenees. Most of his early education he obtained (1838-44) at the school of University College in London, where he came under the notice of Professor Thomas H. Key (the distinguished philologist). Proceeding to University College, Richmond distinguished himself in mathematics and chemistry (under Morgan), took lectures under Faraday and Tyndall, and is mentioned in a text book on chemistry as having discovered an error. He was a friend at this time of Richard Hugh Hutton (editor of the Spectator), and of his father the Rev Dr Hutton, whose ministry the family attended in the ancient chapel in Little Carter Lane, E.C.

With his brother J. C. Richmond (q.v.), Henry came to New Zealand in the Victory (Feb 1851). He married his cousin Mary Blanche, daughter of John and Helen Hursthouse. Richmond served in the Taranaki militia (captain 1850). He took for some years a prominent part in public affairs in Taranaki, representing Grey and Bell in the Provincial Council in 1857, and New Plymouth in 1869-73. For six months (1864-65) he was deputy-superintendent of the province, and in Sep 1865 he was elected Superintendent, an office which he held until 1869 along with the post of resident magistrate. In his superintendency campaign in 1869 Richmond undertook to be the representative of both races. He believed that in matters of crime there should be one law for all, but in other matters certain allowance should be made for the Maori, otherwise they would be driven into the interior. They could not rise to the level of civilised beings at once, and he had proposed to D. McLean a native council to help the civil commissioner in promoting their improvement.

For a short time Richmond was editor of the Taranaki News, and later he established a school in New Plymouth (of which Truby King and E. Rawson were pupils). A few years later he decided to qualify in law, and during the years 1875-77 he was in the office of Fell and Atkinson, at Nelson. Passing his examinations, he was duly admitted at the age of 45 and returned to practise in New Plymouth. A man of high intellectual attainments, warmhearted and generous, he was widely respected both in Taranaki and Nelson. He had advanced views on scientific subjects and published more than one pamphlet setting forth theories regarding the atom which were later recognised.

Richmond died at Christchurch on 7 Dec 1890. After the death of his first wife, Richmond married (1868) Emma, daughter of R. Parris. She was a member of the Taranaki education board (1886-89). (See also C. W. RICHMOND)

Taranaki P.C. Proc. and Gaz.; Cycl. NZ., vi.; Richmond papers, pass; Wells; Seffern; Taranaki Herald, 8 Dec 1890.

Reference: Volume 2, page 122

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