FINNIMORE, WILLIAM (1802-75), was born in England and is believed to have taken part of his medical course. He was engaged in teaching in a school at Kingston-on-Thames before sailing for Wellington in the Lady Nugent with his wife and son. Finnimore kept the Wellington Tavern for a few years, and about 1845 opened a school in Willis Street. This he conducted with considerable success (with the help of his wife) for 20 years. He also for a few months conducted St Paul's school in Thorndon, and for another short period was farming in Karori. Besides the day school, Finnimore held evening classes, in the teaching of which he was assisted by his son, WILLIAM FINNIMORE, born in 1838. The younger Finnimore left Wellington for Wanganui in the early sixties and was engaged there in the Bank of New South Wales. In 1864 he was a lieutenant in the Wanganui militia. In 1868 Finnimore raised in the town of Wanganui the larger of the two volunteer cavalry corps which did gallant service under Whitmore on the West Coast. The corps was composed mainly of the young men of the town, amongst whom John Ballance (q.v.) for a time held a cornet's commission. The two troops rendered efficient service against Titokowaru's forces, and effectively defended the district against the threatened incursion of the enemy, who were almost at Kai-iwi. When the enemy took to the bush Finnimore's troop was released from further service. (Major, 1869). Finnimore was member of the Provincial Council for Wanganui (1869-72). In 1871 he contested the Superintendency of Wellington against Fitzherbert, who defeated him by 929 votes to 458. He retired from the Council in 1872. Finnimore undertook flax culture on a considerable scale.

Macmorran; Cowan; Gudgeon, 325; Gorton; Whitmore; Ward; Wellington Independent, 21 Apr 1871.

Reference: Volume 1, page 142

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