FITZROY, ROBERT (1805-65) was born at Ampton, Suffolk, the second son by a second marriage of Lord Charles FitzRoy. He was grandson of the third Duke of Grafton, and therefore descended from Charles II.

FitzRoy entered the Navy from the Royal Naval College in 1819 and was for two years in South America in the Owen Glendower. After serving in the Hind in the Mediterranean (lieut. 1824) and on the coast of South America in the Thetis frigate, he went into the Ganges as flag-lieutenant to Rear-admiral Sir Robert Otway, commanding-in-chief the South American station (1828). Later in the year, being appointed to command the brig Beagle on the death of Commander Stokes, he prosecuted the survey of the coasts of Patagonia, Tierra del Fuego and Magellan, on which that officer had been engaged under the orders of Commander P. P. King, in the Adventure. Hoping to institute measures for the conversion of the natives, FitzRoy took four natives of Tierra del Fuego with him when the two vessels returned to England (1830). They were introduced to the King and Queen and taken back to their homes with a missionary (Matthews, q.v.) when FitzRoy returned in the following summer to continue the same duty. The Beagle sailed again on 27 Dec 1831, with Charles Darwin on board as naturalist, and was five years abroad, surveying the coasts of South America and running a chronometric line round the world, thus fixing the longitude of many secondary meridians.

In Dec 1835 the Beagle spent 10 days in Bay of Islands. While Darwin was engaged in botanical work FitzRoy saw a good deal of the Church Missionary Society's stations, with which he was greatly impressed. His own religious tendencies inclined him to seek the society of the missionaries, and in his evidence before the select committee of the House of Lords in 1838 he eulogised their character and work in the highest terms.

In July 1835 FitzRoy was advanced to post rank. In Oct 1836 he returned to England, where he spent the next few years reducing the observations of the voyages of the Adventure and Beagle between 1826 and 1836 and publishing the narrative, the third volume of which was by Darwin. FitzRoy's work as a surveyor was of a high standard and stood for many years. In 1837 he received the gold medal of the Royal Geographical Society. At the general election of 1841, by the influence of Lord Londonderry, he was elected to Parliament to represent Durham. This contest was marked by a violent quarrel between him and a Mr Sheppard, who was also to have contested the seat in the Conservative interest, but withdrew without giving FitzRoy proper notice. FitzRoy challenged him to a duel, but Sheppard did not appear, saying that business took him to London. He afterwards encountered FitzRoy in London and was knocked down. A group of naval and military officers decided that FitzRoy could not give Sheppard a meeting, and the quarrel was continued by pamphlet.

In Sep 1842 FitzRoy was appointed conservator of the river Mersey, a position which he resigned in 1843, with that of an elder brother of Trinity House, on being appointed Governor of New Zealand. He arrived in Auckland in the Bangalore on 23 Dec 1843 and assumed office at once from Shortland (q.v.) who had been administrator since the death of Hobson (in Sep 1842) and whom he treated with little consideration.

FitzRoy found the country in a despondent condition and many of the settlers almost rebellious from their grievances against the New Zealand Company, the Government and the natives. The affray at Wairau, in which 22 Europeans had been killed while attempting to arrest a powerful chief, remained unpunished. FitzRoy had come over from Sydney with Dr Andrew Sinclair (q.v.), whom he immediately appointed Colonial Secretary in place of Shortland. Finding an empty exchequer, a disaffected European population, and natives who suspected the intentions of the Government and the good faith of the whites, FitzRoy approached the Europeans in a haughty and unconciliatory manner. He gratuitously offended some of their leaders and gave the Company's settlers at Wellington the impression that he thought more of native grievances than of their distress. Influenced by Exeter Hall opinions, he felt and said that the natives were his main care. After hearing the Maori version of the Wairau affair he concluded that the blame lay chiefly on the Europeans and declined to take action against Rauparaha and Rangihaeata. In this course he was upheld by the Secretary of State (Nov 1844). At all of the settlements he paid marked deference to the leading chiefs, and commended the work of the missionaries. He did, however, assist Colonel Wakefield to complete purchases of land at Port Nicholson and he promised to expedite the work of the land claims commissioners. FitzRoy had only been a few months in the colony when he had to provide for the pressing financial needs of the government, which were far beyond its means. The floating debt at the beginning of the year was £24,000 and the revenue for the year was estimated at £20,000, which was not two-thirds of the authorised expenditure, even after drastic retrenchment had been carried out. The customs in 1843 yielded only £10,000, and cost £4,000 to collect. FitzRoy therefore, in Apr 1844, got the Legislative Council to pass an ordinance authorising the issue of negotiable debentures bearing interest at 5 per cent. He also increased the customs duties and imposed a tax on firearms. This infuriated the settlers and encouraged smuggling, which the excise offices were powerless to stop. To propitiate the Maori, who resented not being able to sell their lands in order to obtain money, a proclamation was issued waiving the pre-emptive right of the Crown over certain Maori lands and imposing a fee of ten shillings per acre on all purchases. In the condition of the colony this fee almost stopped sales.

While these economic measures were being initiated FitzRoy was harassed by troubles on all sides. The natives in Taranaki resisted the award of the land commissioner. At Bay of Islands Heke led a growing disaffection which had its origin in the loss of all authority and mana by the chiefs together with their sources of revenue, disreputable though some of them were. In Jul 1844 he cut down the flagstaff at Kororareka as a symbol of his defiance of British sovereignty, but without offering violence to the Europeans. FitzRoy promptly despatched a vessel to Bay of Islands with a subaltern and 30 men from the small force which was stationed in Auckland. He visited the Bay in H.M.S. Hazard and then proceeded to Taranaki, where he pacified the natives by saying that the award of Spain would not be put into force.

After visiting Wellington he returned to the Bay, where 150 men of the 99th Regiment had arrived with three guns. The troops were transported to Kerikeri for an advance inland against Heke's position at Okaihau. Nene and other friendly chiefs warned the Governor against such a dangerous adventure. They agreed that Heke had grievances, but undertook to prevent him from doing mischief if the troops were withdrawn. FitzRoy accordingly accepted 20 muskets and 20 tomahawks as a token of submission and withdrew the troops. Unfortunately they were sent back to Sydney, and the provocative flagstaff was re-erected. The Governor now hastened to redress some of the native grievances by reducing the fee on sales of land from 10s to 1d per acre and abolishing the customs duties, for which he substituted a property tax (28 Sep 1844). He also passed an ordinance authorising the issue of a new set of debentures of the value of five shillings upwards, a form of financing which was definitely forbidden in the instructions to colonial governors. These changes were greeted with enthusiasm in the north, but they were most objectionable to southern settlers, who evaded the new duties in every possible way. With the news of these events the Colonial Office received protests from Port Nicholson and Nelson against the Governor's administration, which it was contended had depreciated the value of landed property in the settlements.

The year 1845 opened inauspiciously. The Governor had already offered rewards for the apprehension of offending chiefs at Kawakawa when (on 10 Jan) Heke again cut down the flagstaff. Nene's men, who were in charge of it, made no physical resistance, believing that it was not right to shed blood for a piece of wood. FitzRoy offered a reward of £100 for the arrest of Heke, who now moved about the district with a body of armed and well-trained men. FitzRoy again sent to Sydney for troops, and meanwhile moved 50 men to the Bay of Islands and re-erected the flagstaff, the foot of which was strongly sheathed in iron, while a blockhouse was constructed to protect it. The Hazard remained on guard in the Bay. Indignant at having a price placed on his head, Heke threatened to attack Auckland itself. Excitement was high in all the settlements. The Governor, fearing to precipitate outbreaks between the two races, refused to allow the volunteers to be embodied. Thereupon the justices of the peace in several of the southern settlements took it upon themselves to arm and drill their fellow citizens for self-defence. On 11 Mar, after having given the townspeople due warning, Heke made a concerted attack on Kororareka, cutting down the flagstaff again after enticing the military guard to leave the blockhouse. Severe fighting took place between other divisions of the Maori force and the soldiers and marines. A store containing gunpowder was blown up by carelessness, causing many casualties, and at nightfall the civil population evacuated the town. The armed forces also re-embarked, leaving the place defenceless. No violence was offered to the white settlers but the property thus left unprotected was pillaged by natives and whites indiscriminately. Next day Selwyn and Archdeacon Henry Williams sought out and buried the dead. Some hundreds of refugees were embarked in the Hazard, the American corvette St Louis and the whaler Matilda, and sailed for Auckland, leaving Kororareka a smoking ruin. The English church and the Catholic bishop's house were spared.

Nene now took the field against Heke and Kawiti. On 26 Apr martial law was proclaimed at Bay of Islands, whither 300 troops were despatched under Colonel Hulme. Troops landed at Otuihu and arrested Pomare, who was sent to Auckland. The whole force, with naval brigade, disembarked at Onewhara beach whence, joined by a friendly contingent under Nene, it marched towards Kerikeri. On 8 May it advanced to attack Heke's pa at Okaihau, which was invested on three sides. After fighting all day and gaining several important positions around the pa, the troops were withdrawn at night, having suffered some losses. The British loss was 15 killed and 41 wounded. On the following day, with their wounded on litters, the force retreated to Kerikeri. The commander returned to Auckland to report the affair. To prevent arms reaching the natives FitzRoy now declared a blockade of the coast from Whangaroa to Whangarei. All intercourse with the natives was forbidden.

Though not driven out of their pa, the Maori leaders now looked for a better position, which they found at Ohaeawai and strongly fortified. Reinforcements having arrived under the command of Colonel Despard, a combined force of 520 soldiers, 80 sailors and 8 volunteers marched from Kerikeri and appeared before Ohaeawai on 25 Jun. Against the warnings of Nene Despard ordered an assault on 1 Jul. It ended in a disastrous repulse, with the loss of 107 dead and wounded. On 10 Jul the offensive was resumed, and on the following morning the defenders withdrew from the pa, which was occupied by the troops. After this success, the Governor had to await the arrival of more troops before attacking Heke's ally Kawiti at Ruapekapeka.

Meanwhile discontent in the settlements increased and public meetings were held demanding the recall of FitzRoy. Native tribes throughout the country did not conceal their sympathy with Heke. In England a strong agitation had begun against FitzRoy's administration. In the House of Commons as early as Mar 1845 debates were held criticising his financial operations and the waiver of the government's right of pre-emption, both of which had been disallowed by the Colonial Secretary. The Company's influential friends in Parliament were as strongly hostile to FitzRoy as they had previously been to Hobson and were still to be to Grey. On 30 Apr the Secretary of State informed FitzRoy that it had been decided to supersede him and to send as his successor Captain George Grey (q.v.), whose work in South Australia had created a very favourable impression. Grey arrived in Auckland on 15 Nov and assumed the government on the 18th.

Gisborne weighs up very fairly the character and achievements of FitzRoy, concluding that with the best of intentions he had not the capability for his office in New Zealand. "Had he been endowed with very great abilities he would probably have failed; but unhappily his qualities were such as to make his failure certain and complete. He was rash and impulsive, weak and injudicious, and at the same time, paradoxical as it may seem, obstinate and self-confident. He was unskilful in the management of men, unversed in constitutional principles, and altogether ignorant of political economy. His official action was inconsistent and mischievous; he did much to set race against race and class against class." Yet it has to be remembered on the reverse side that FitzRoy was dominated by solicitude for the Maori people. His policy on their behalf brought upon him the implacable hostility of a large and influential section of the white population. The colonists' petition to the House of Commons was a masterly document expressing clearly the inherent hostility between the Company's interests and those of the natives. The Company adopted it with wholehearted approval and instructed its agents in New Zealand to reward the author (Domett) with some paid post which might become vacant. A greater and better balanced man than FitzRoy might have failed to govern a colony in which such passions were rife and such powerful interests opposed to his administration. FitzRoy sailed for London in the David Malcolm on 10 Jan 1846. In 1848 he was appointed superintendent of the dockyard at Woolwich, and early in 1849 he took command of the screw frigate Arrogant, which had been fitted out under his supervision to carry out certain trials.

FitzRoy retired from the service in 1850. (Rear-admiral by seniority 1857; vice-admiral 1863.) In 1851 he was elected a fellow of the Royal Society. He served a few months as private secretary to his uncle, Lord Hardinge, then commander-in-chief of the army; and then, at the recommendation of the Royal Society, he was appointed chief of the meteorological department of the Board of Trade. His high standing as a meteorologist was enhanced by the popular work which he did in this office. He suggested the design of the FitzRoy barometer, and in the Weather Book (published in 1863) he inaugurated an advance in the study. He instituted storm warnings which afterwards developed into regular weather forecasts. He published Remarks on New Zealand (1846); several manuals on meteorology and sailing directions and his official reports to the Board of Trade. He also did valuable work for the seafaring community as secretary of the Lifeboat Association. Overwork took its toll of an excitable disposition and his mind gave way, leading to his committing suicide on 30 Apr 1865. FitzRoy married (1836) Mary Henrietta (who died in 1852), daughter of Major-general Edward James O'Brien. As a hostess and philanthropist Mrs FitzRoy won golden opinions. Her salon in Auckland was an oasis of culture and enlightenment.

D.N.B.; Jour. Royal Geog. Soc., vol xxxv; G.B.O.P. 1838/680; 1844/556; 1845/1, 131, 245, 247, 369, 517 ii, 661; 1846/203, 337; G.B. Hansard, vol. 78, cols. 644-94; vol. 80, cols 172-4, 183-6; Sinclair papers; Wells; Buick, First War (p); Marjoribanks; Darwin; Fitzroy, op. cit.; S.M. Martin; Clarke; Cowan i; Thomson; Saunders; E. J. Wakefield; King; Joan Barlow; Gisborne; G. H. Walls (p); Carleton; Hocken; Sherrin and Wallace; The Times (London), 1 May 1865.

Reference: Volume 1, page 149

🌳 Further sources