CARLETON, HUGH FRANCIS (1810-90) was the eldest son of Francis Carleton, of Claremore, county Tipperary, and Greenlands, county Cork. Though born in England, he was of Irish descent. Educated at Eton (under Dr Keate), he was admitted to Trinity College, Cambridge, in 1828, with the promise of high classical distinction, but his studies were interrupted by rustication as the result of what he called "an affair of honour with the long carpenter," arising out of a town-and-gown disturbance. He pulled No. 4 in the Privateer for Trinity in 1831, when it bumped Lady Margaret (Bishop Selwyn pulling No 7), which had been head of the river for three terms.

Proceeding to London, Carleton studied in the Middle Temple under Sir John Bailey, but took a dislike to law and was never called. Instead he went to Italy to study art and spent the greater part of three years in travelling. He came to Auckland in 1845, and was employed for a while by Brown and Campbell. Then he engaged in commercial speculations, notably the importation of stock from Australia, for which he chartered a small vessel, the Orwell. She made three unprofitable voyages, and ended her career by being cast away on the Orwell Bank at Manukau (Mar 1848). At intervals Carleton took part in editing the New Zealander, which advocated the rights of the pre-emption land claimants and FitzRoy's grantees. Then he established on his own account (Apr 1848) the Anglo-Maori Warder, in opposition to the government of the day. In spite of Carleton's ignorance of business, it paid its way for about six months, and then closed down. Carleton next turned his attention in a desultory manner towards the South Seas, and saw much of the islands of Fiji. William Brown having decided to despatch the schooner Noble to San Francisco, agreed to take Carleton with him as a cabin passenger. When Carleton was ashore at Pitcairn island the vessel was blown off and he spent three weeks on the island awaiting a chance to leave. During this time, it is said, he amused himself teaching the natives part singing. He was picked up by the Colonist (Capt. Marshall, from whom he had previously chartered the Haidee), and reached San Francisco some time ahead of the Noble but in some difficulty owing to the absence of his property.

Returning to New Zealand in time for the first election of the General Assembly, Carleton was elected member for Bay of Islands, which he represented continuously from 1853 to 1870, when he was regarded as "the father of the House." He took a prominent part in the controversy regarding responsible government, and acquired a reputation as a polished and highly cultured speaker, though inclined to be ponderous and dogmatic. A marked attitude of superiority, and a facility in several languages, with which he freely adorned his speeches, militated against his political popularity. Responsible government at that stage he considered a mistake. Carleton did not enter the first Auckland Provincial Council, but at the general election in Oct 1855 he was returned for Bay of Islands. Here, too, he took a prominent part in the early struggles, exciting opposition often by his obvious attainments. He was provincial secretary for most of the year 1856 (under the Superintendency of Campbell) and again (1864-66) under Graham and Whitaker. He represented Bay of Islands (1855-57), the City of Auckland (1859-61), Newton (1861-65) and Bay of Islands again (1865-75). As early as 1858 he supported the new provinces bill in the hope of destroying the provincial system by subdivision. Having taken his part in defeating the Sewell government in 1856, Carleton supported Fox for the sake of his waste lands policy; then supported Stafford and voted for the compact. In 1856 he took charge (as editor) of the Southern Cross, to which he had long been a contributor. He had strong views against the Waitara war, but supported Stafford because he felt himself pledged to a general support. Next year he gave his casting vote to put the government out. He agitated for direct purchase of native lands, thus destroying the government monopoly.

Having paid a visit to England, from which he returned in 1864, Carleton found Stafford in office and supported him. For a period of 14 years (1856-70) he acted as chairman of committees in the House. At the general election in 1870 he was defeated for Bay of Islands by John McLeod, the lessee of the coalmines, and this practically closed his political career. He was nominated again in 1878 for the Eden seat, which he could have won if he had pledged himself to support Grey, but he answered that "if he were to follow any man blindfolded it was not worth having the seat." A scholarly man even amongst many fine classical scholars in the early Parliaments of New Zealand, Carleton nevertheless had limitations of manner which were politically disastrous. He knew nothing of compromise, and was often considered "crochety" in his fine distinctions and punctilio. His speeches, though at times they struck a high note of oratory and sentiment, often bored the House. Nor was he a stranger to invective, as witness his scathing indictment (during the debates on responsible government) of Edward Gibbon Wakefield's sense of honour.

On retiring from politics Carleton lived quietly at his home at Pakaraka, Bay of Islands, only emerging to maintain his steady interest in higher education. As early as 1851 he had urged the establishment in each province of a secular university supported by the state. In 1871 he was elected vice-chancellor of the University of New Zealand, a position which he occupied until his departure for England in 1880, and was one of the leaders of the successful struggle against the foundation of a single university institution in Otago. He represented the university at the tercentenary celebrations of the University of Edinburgh (1884). Carleton spent the last ten years of his life in England, and when he died on 14 Jul 1890, he had been almost forgotten in the Colony. He married on 30 Nov 1859 Lydia Jane (1835-91), daughter of Archdeacon Henry Williams (q.v.).

Carleton's life of Archdeacon Henry Williams is an important, though controversial, contribution to the early history of New Zealand. He published several controversial pamphlets.

Auckland P.C. Proc.; N.Z.P.D., pass.; Registry of Cambridge University; Thomson; Rusden; Beaglehole; P. A. Carleton, Memorials of the Carletons, 1869; Otago Guardian, 8 Oct 1873; N.Z. Herald, 27 Feb 1871, 9 Apr 1878, 20 Sep 1890. Portrait: Parliament House.

Reference: Volume 1, page 87

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