COATES, SIR JAMES HUGH BUCHANAN (1851-1935) was born at Auckland, the son of James Coates (1815-54), who was born in Jamaica and came to New Zealand in July 1841. James Coates was gazetted sheriff on 3 May 1841 and appointed clerk to the Legislative Council. He married in 1841 Sarah Anne (1819-92), only daughter of G. H. Bendall, of Somersetshire, who arrived in the Chelydra from New South Wales. In 1846 Coates was appointed chief clerk in the Colonial Secretary's office, in 1853 clerk to the Auckland Provincial Council and in 1854 clerk to the House of Representatives, but he did not live to assume the last post.

The son James was educated at the Church of England Grammar School (under Kinder) and joined the Bank of New South Wales in 1868. On the establishment of the National Bank of New Zealand in 1873 he joined its staff, and in 1893 became general manager. The head office was then in Dunedin. After a visit to London Coates moved the headquarters to Wellington (1894). He retired on pension in 1914 and joined the London directorate. Coates was one of the Wellington commissioners for the visit to New Zealand of the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York in 1901. In that year he was appointed by the London debenture holders of the Midland Railway Co. as their receiver in the settlement with the New Zealand government. A Liberal in politics, he frequently advised the Seddon and Ward administrations, and he was offered the post of president of the Bank of New Zealand under the legislation of the nineties. During the war of 1914-18 Coates rendered valuable service to New Zealand organisations in England. He was knighted in 1922. His death occurred on 11 Oct 1935.

Who's Who N.Z., 1908-32; N.Z. Gaz., 1841-54; Auckland P.C. Proc.; Cycl. N.Z., i (p); Scholefield, Hobson; N.Z. Herald and Evening Post, 11 Oct 1935; Otago Daily Times, 3 Jan 1922

Reference: Volume 1, page 99

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