WILSON, SIR JAMES GLENNY (1848-1929) was born at Hawick, Scotland, and was educated at Bruce Castle and at Tottenham (London), where he met W. Colenso and the Maori boy Pomare. He also attended classes at London and Edinburgh Universities. He married (1874) Anne (q.v.), daughter of Robert Adams, St Enoch, Victoria, and in the same year came to New Zealand, and took up sheepfarming in Rangitikei. He sat in the House of Representatives continuously from 1882 to 1896 (1882-90 as member for Foxton; 1890-93 for Palmerston North; 1893-96 for Otaki). He was president of the New Zealand Farmers' Union from its foundation in 1900 till 1920; he was the first president of the Board of Agriculture (founded in 1914); one of the founders of the Farmers' Distributing Co., and the first chairman of directors of the Dominion Farmers' Institute at its inception in 1915. He was an advocate of agricultural education in the state schools. Wilson held office as first president of the New Zealand Forestry League (1916-25) and was largely responsible for the establishment of the state forestry service. For many years he was a member of the Manawatu county council, and the Palmerston North hospital board. He was knighted in 1915. In 1914 he published his recollections, Early Rangitikei. Wilson died on 3 May 1929.

J. G. Wilson, op. cit.; The Dominion, 6 May 1929 (p); Evening Post, 4 May.

Reference: Volume 2, page 264

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