KIDD, ROBERT BOYD (1818-94) was born in northern Ireland and educated at Enniskillen school, from which he took a scholarship to Trinity College, Dublin. There he obtained a first exhibitionership, and he was ordained with a view to being elected a fellow of the University. While rector of Butley, Suffolk (1856) he published a Delineation of the Primary Principles of Reasoning, on the reading of which Dr Whately wrote that he "did not know a superior logician at that time." Precluded by ill-health from accepting a professorship at Queen's University, he arrived in Auckland in 1863. Kidd became editor of the New Zealander later in the year and acted until 1865. In company with Joseph N. Fowler he started a collegiate school in Auckland. From this he removed to Wesley College, where he taught classics and mathematics (1883) and finally became first headmaster of Auckland College and Grammar School. When the Grammar School was transferred to the old Albert barracks he became chief classical master and later registrar of the University College and secretary to the Grammar School governors. He was once a tutor at St John's College. He was a prominent freemason. His death occurred on 19 Jul 1894.

Cycl. N.Z., ii; N.Z. Herald, 20 Jul 1894.

Reference: Volume 1, page 249

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