HORNSBY, JOHN THOMAS MARRYAT (1857-1921) was born in Hobart, Tasmania, where he was educated and brought up to printing by his father. Coming to New Zealand in 1874, he settled at Queenstown, and soon afterwards took charge of the Observer at Arrow, where he was a borough councillor and lieutenant of the volunteers. In 1876 he became foreman printer of the Southland Times, and some years later was on the News. In 1882 he started the Lake Country Press at Arrow, and he contested the Wakatipu seat against T. Fergus in 1884. In 1886 he became editor of the Napier Evening News, and later of the Waipawa Mail. While in Hawkes Bay he was a member of the education board. After a few months in Dunedin he returned to the Evening News. He became editor of the New Zealand Times in 1896 and in that year contested the Wairarapa seat in Parliament.

In 1898 Hornsby purchased the Wairarapa Leader, and in 1899 he won the Wairarapa seat against Buchanan. Defeated by the same opponent in 1902, he turned the tables in 1905. In the following year he relinquished the Leader and became editor of the New Zealand Railway Review. Defeated in 1911 and 1914, he won the Wairarapa seat once more in 1914, but was defeated in 1919 (by A. D. McLeod).

Hornsby died on 23 Feb 1921. He married (1876) Sarah Scott, a daughter of Dougald Napier (Glasgow).

Who's Who N.Z., 1908; Cycl. N.Z., i. Portrait: Parliament House.

Reference: Volume 1, page 224

🌳 Further sources