UPTON, JOHN HENRY (1863-1929), second son of Henry Upton, surveyor and farmer, was born in Lincolnshire, and educated at the Rev. Percy Strutt's academy in Spalding. Arriving in Auckland in 1866 by the Chili, he joined his brother as booksellers and stationers in the business later known as Upton and Co. He was a member of the education board (1884-89) and chairman for a year, a member of the City Council in 1884, mayor of Auckland (1889-91) and chairman of the Auckland sinking fund commissioners from 1884. He was also a director of the South British Insurance Co. (1895-1929), of the Auckland Gas Co. (1897-1920), the Northern Steam Ship Co., the Hikurangi Coal Co., New Zealand Newspapers and for some years of the Bank of New Zealand. He took part in founding the Riverhead paper mills, and was a trustee of the Auckland Savings Bank (1883-1929), of the Melanesian mission trust from 1874, and of St John's College. For many years he was a member of the Auckland Museum and Institute and in 1902 he was president of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce. Upton married in 1870 a daughter of William Gorrie. He died on 28 May 1929.

Cycl. NZ., ii; Who's Who N.Z., 1908, 1924; N.Z. Herald, 29 Jan 1890, 29 May 1929 (p).

Reference: Volume 2, page 209

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