DORSET, JOHN (1807-56) was born in London and completed his medical education at Westminster Hospital. He then enlisted as an assistant surgeon in the British Auxiliary Legion in Portugal, defending the constitutional government of Dom Pedro. He was present at most of the engagements and the siege of Oporto. After recovering from typhus, he took the field under Bernardo da Sa (who had served under Wellington). At the battle of Sao Bartolomeo, when the Constitutional forces had broken, da Sa and Dorset retrieved the day by leading a cavalry charge, and Dorset, the only officer unhurt, commanded the rearguard operations of the cavalry. He was promoted cavalry commander in recognition of his gallantry. Dorset went to England at the end of this campaign and at once enlisted as surgeon in the Legion for Spain. He was placed in charge of the hospital at Vittoria during a severe winter marked by outbreaks of disease in the army and then joined the staff of de Lacy Evans. On the disbandment of the Legion he immediately enlisted for another term of service in the auxiliary brigade.

Returning to England in 1839 he met his fellow legionnaire, Colonel Wakefield, by whose influence he was appointed principal surgeon to the New Zealand Company. He came to New Zealand in the Tory. In Wellington Dorset took a leading part in the constitutional movement. In 1853-56 he represented Wellington City in the Provincial Council, and in 1854 he was appointed provincial surgeon. He died on 2 Oct 1856, and was succeeded as M.P.C. by his brother, WILLIAM DORSET (1802-77, arrived in Wellington 1841), who sat till the following year.

NZ.C.; Cycl. NZ. i, 271; Ward; Grimstone; E. J. Wakefield; Wakelin; Wellington Independent, 22, 25 Oct 1856.

Reference: Volume 1, page 126

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