SOMES, JOSEPH (1787-1845) was born of a family of Thames watermen and lightermen. His father, Samuel Somes, married the daughter of a coal meter and became himself a coal merchant. His mother was a woman of strong character and through his ancestor, Dr Thomas Dover (the 'quicksilver doctor'), who fitted out several privateers, he seems to have inherited some of the spirit of maritime enterprise. Somes was apprenticed to his father as a lighterman, and was associated with him later when he owned ships. One of these, the Samuel and Sarah, which was engaged carrying troops to North America, was captured by the U.S. frigate Essex.

Joseph married in 1811 Mary Ann, daughter of Thomas Daplyn, of Stepney. He soon engaged in shipping ventures, his first success being in the chartering of ships belonging to the East India Company. When the Company's fleet was broken up, he bought some of the best ships, paying £13,950 for the Lowther Castle, and £10,700 for the Earl of Balcarres. He carried on prosperously in the East India trade for some years, owning amongst others the Thomas Coutts, Java, Peeress, Merchantman, Star of India, Tyburnia, Europe, Eastern Monarch, Canning, Maria Somes, Dartmouth and Salisbury. He was one of the promoters of Lloyd's Register, and appears in the first issue as the largest individual shipowner in England. Later he acquired two or three fast tea clippers, including the Silver Eagle and the Leander; and he even engaged in whaling in the South Seas, the Perseverance having been owned by him. He was one of the first directors of the New Zealand Company (1838), and in 1839 he sold to the Company the barque Tory and at his own expense fitted out the Cuba. He later became governor on the death of Lord Durham (1840), and carried through much of the delicate correspondence with the British Government.

Somes was elected in 1844 M.P. for Dartmouth, and confirmed in the seat after an attempt to disqualify him as a government contractor. His wife having died (1835), he married secondly Maria, daughter of Charles Saxton. She established the Somes Foundation at Christ's College (1850). Somes died on 25 Jun 1845. The Times remarked of him: 'In the city he was very highly esteemed, and naturally enjoyed the great influence which arose from high character and ample capital.' His widow died on 26 Jul 1911.

Family information from Sir Thomas Colyer Fergusson, D.L.; N.Z.C. papers in N.Z. Archives and printed reports; G.B.O.P., 1842/569, 1843/323, 1844/56; Marais; Harrop, England and New Zealand; C. Fox-Smith, Ship Alley (1925); N.Z. Journal, 5 Jul 1845; Christ's Coll. Reg.; The Times, 26 Jun 1845. Portrait: General Assembly Library.

Reference: Volume 2, page 161

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