BRANIGAN, ST JOHN (1824-73) was born in King's County, Ireland. He joined the 45th regiment, resigning in Cape Colony to join the police, in which he made rapid progress and became an inspector. He was rewarded for gallantry in frontier duty against Kafirs (in which he was wounded). In 1854 he went to Victoria and after running a small schooner without success he accepted a cadetship in the police and rose to sub-inspector. In 1861 he brought a detachment of 20 mounted police from Victoria and organised the Otago force and the goldfields escorts. He became commissioner (1863) and resigned in 1869 to organise the Armed Constabulary on service against Te Kooti. Ill-health compelled him to retire in 1870 and he died on 10 Sep 1873. Branigan was the originator and organiser of the Otago industrial school.

App. H.R., 1870, D.7; Gilkison; Hocken, Otago; Larkworthy; Otago Daily Times, 23 Oct 1869, 16 Sep 1873; Otago Guardian, 11 Sep 1873.

Reference: Volume 1, page 61

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