PERCEVAL, SIR WESTBY BROOK (1854-1928) was the son of Westby Hawkshaw Perceval, of county Meath, and was born at Launceston, Tasmania, while his parents were en route to New Zealand. Educated first at Merton's school, Rangiora, he entered Christ's College as a junior Somes scholar (1867) and remained there until 1872, being captain of the College. In 1873 he entered Stonyhurst College, Lancashire, to study philosophy, and in 1875 commenced to read for the bar at the Middle Temple. He was called in 1878, returned to New Zealand and commenced to practise in Christchurch with T. I. Joynt. The partnership was dissolved in 1883, after which Perceval practised alone. In 1880 he married Jessie, daughter of the Hon John Johnston (q.v.). Perceval took part in the agitation for a railway from Canterbury to the West Coast, and assisted to form the Canterbury Electors' Association to promote the railway and tariff protection. In 1887 he was elected M.H.R. for Christchurch South. In 1890 he was returned for City of Christchurch, and in the following session was chairman of committees. He resigned on 15 Sep 1891 to become Agent-general for New Zealand, and filled that position till 1896. In 1894 he was created a K.C.M.G., and the Pope conferred upon him in 1891 the rank of a Knight of St Gregory. He was a governor of the Royal Colonial Institute (1892), a member of the royal commission for the Chicago Exhibition (1904) and of the Chamberlain tariff commission.

Perceval published in 1891 a pamphlet Land in Sight (on the Liberal land policy), and in 1892 several small pamphlets on New Zealand. In 1896 he accepted the appointment of Agent-general for Tasmania, which he held to 1898. He was a director of the Union Bank of Australia and the River Plate Land Mortgage Co. He died on 23 Jun 1928.

N.Z.P.D., 3 Jul 1928; Parltry Record; Who's Who N.Z., 1924; Cycl. N.Z., i (p); iii; Christ's Coll. List.; Hocken; N.Z. Graphic, 3 Oct 1891 (p). Portrait: Parliament House.

Reference: Volume 2, page 83

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