WYNYARD, ROBERT HENRY (1802-64) was the younger son of Lieut-General William Wynyard, colonel of the 5th Regiment, and equerry to George III. Receiving his commission as ensign in the 58th Foot in 1819, he was promoted lieutenant in 1823; captain in 1826; major in 1841 and lieut-colonel in 1842.

Wynyard arrived in New Zealand in Oct 1845 with 200 men of his regiment, and in Dec was in charge of the advanced division on the Kawakawa river. On 11 Jan 1846 he was present at the occupation of Ruapekapeka pa, from which the garrison had withdrawn for the Sunday service. Wynyard left New Zealand early in 1847 for Australia, where the headquarters of the regiment was stationed, but returned in Jan 1851 to assume the command of the forces (vacant by the death of General Dean Pitt). Governor Grey appointed him (Apr 1851) to be lieutenant-governor of the province of New Ulster. This post he administered with tact and energy until its abolition in 1853, receiving from the Governor and the Secretary of State letters of approbation. In 1853 Wynyard was earnestly requested to stand for the superintendency of Auckland, and he acceded after assuring himself of the approval of his superiors. He took no part whatever in the political campaign, and did not even appear on the hustings to return thanks for his election (22 May 1853). It was Grey's intention that the Provincial Councils should first be brought into operation, and that after they had decided what powers they should exercise the General Assembly should be convened to give effect to their decision. When he left New Zealand at the end of 1853 he entrusted Wynyard with the administration of the Colony. The Duke of Newcastle, who had approved Wynyard's participation in political affairs only on Grey's assurance that it was in the interest of the Colony, felt definitely uneasy at this new activity, and instructed him (2 Jul 1854) to divest himself at the earliest opportunity of the superintendency of Auckland, which he considered incompatible with the higher post of Governor. Wynyard accordingly resigned (5 Jan 1855).

Meanwhile he became involved in unexpected difficulties with the General Assembly. No sooner had that body met (May 1854) than it demanded the inauguration of responsible government. Advised almost openly by Edward Gibbon Wakefield, Wynyard conceived that his instructions forbade him granting the request without submitting the matter to the Government at Home. He compromised for the time by adding to his executive several members of the Assembly, but refused to dismiss the permanent officials from the Council without the sanction of the Secretary of State. On this he stood firm, and Parliament was prorogued on 15 Sep. Instructions arrived that responsible Government could be inaugurated by merely providing pensions for the retiring officials. Gore Browne arrived to assume the governorship in Sep 1855, and responsible government was smoothly established in the next session.

As lieutenant-governor, Wynyard visited the Coromandel district on the discovery of gold in 1852, and arranged with the native chiefs for the amicable development of the diggings. He was promoted colonel (20 Jun 1854) and remained in command in New Zealand until his regiment returned to England in 1858. He was a member of the Legislative Council in 1858. In Oct he was promoted major-general and three months later went to the Cape in command of the troops.

Here again he was under Grey's governorship, and again he was called upon to administer the government on two occasions (Aug 1859-Jul 1860 and at the end of 1861). He was nominated C.B. and received a pension for distinguished services. In 1863 he returned to England on sick leave and was appointed colonel of the 98th Foot. He died on 6 Jan 1864.

Wynyard married Anne Catherine, daughter of H. Macdonell. She was for many years leader of society in Auckland, where she died (2 Nov 1881).

N.Z.P.D., 1854-58; D.N.B.; Thomson; Gisborne; Rusden; Saunders; Morton; N.Z. Herald, 14 Feb 1871, 7 Nov 1881; Taranaki Herald, 13 Jul 1861.

Portrait: N.Z. Herald, 13 Nov 1933.

Reference: Volume 2, page 271

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