COLLIER, JAMES (1847-1925) was born at Dunfermline, Scotland, and educated at St Andrew's and Edinburgh University, but did not graduate. Herbert Spencer found him fully qualified to do the compilation and tabulation required in his Descriptive Sociology, and Collier appeared as collaborator in the third division of that work. In 1876 Spencer relieved him of the heavier and more mechanical portion of the work and employed him as his culture and powers suggested. He was a candidate for a professorship, but anxiety and extra work led to a breakdown in health late in 1876. In 1881 he was still fit for only an hour's work in a day.

Shortly afterwards he came to New Zealand for his health, and became private tutor in the family of Judge T. B. Gillies (q.v.).

In 1885 Collier was appointed parliamentary librarian, and four years later he published his bibliography, The Literature Relating to New Zealand, which set a standard and form for more important bibliographies since published. It is particularly rich in periodical references (especially German). He also published Sir George Grey: An Historical Biography (1909) and an account of The English Colony in New South Wales (1910) and The Pastoral Age in Australia (1911). He lived for 30 years in Australia and died on 21 Jun 1925.

Hocken, Bibliog.; H. Spencer, Autobiography (1904); David Duncan, Life and Letters of Herbert Spencer (1908); Collier, op. cit.; Josiah Roberts, Herbert Spencer (1904, chapter of reminiscences by Collier).

Reference: Volume 1, page 101

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