WALLIS, JAMES (1825-1912) was born in Aberdeenshire and educated at Aberdeen University, where he graduated M.A. (1844). He was a profound Greek scholar. As a clergyman, and later a missionary of the Presbyterian Church, he ministered in Dundee and Aberdeen and at Essequibo and Demerara, in British Guiana. With the object of becoming a medical missionary he passed as a surgeon at Edinburgh (1863), and two years later he began to visit New Zealand as a surgeon in the Rangitoto and other vessels. He was for a few years in charge of St David's Church and then, outside of the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand, he built Newton Kirk, where he preached as an independent for some years. Dissensions arising, he sold his property in 1881 and farmed at Riverhead until 1896, when he moved to Richmond. Standing as an independent, Wallis was M.H.R. for Auckland City West (1877-81). He afterwards supported Grey. He was a strong advocate of woman's suffrage and introduced a bill in 1878. He contested a city seat in 1896.

Wallis married (1862) Elizabeth (d. 1904) daughter of Dr Richard Poole (Edinburgh). He died on 25 May 1912.

N.Z.P.D., 27 Jun 1912; Cycl. N.Z. ii (p); N.Z. Herald, 27 May 1912. Portrait: Parliament House.

Reference: Volume 2, page 231

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