GISBORNE, WILLIAM (1825-98) was a son of Thomas John Gisborne, of Holme Hall, Bakewell, Derbyshire, and Sarah, the daughter of J.A. Krehmer, of St Petersburg. He was educated at Harrow, and at the age of 17 went to South Australia.

In 1847 he came to New Zealand; was appointed private secretary to the Lieutenant-governor of New Munster (9 Aug) and a few months later clerk to the executive. He then lived at the Hutt, and Thomas Arnold (q.v.) was much impressed by his qualities. In Sep 1848 he was appointed commissioner of crown lands for the province of New Ulster, and in 1850 a commissioner for the quieting of native titles. In 1852 he went to England on 18 months' leave of absence. On his return (1853) he was appointed Under-secretary for Lands; and in Jul 1856, on the inauguration of responsible government and the retirement of the old permanent officials, he succeeded Dr Sinclair (q.v.) as Under-secretary in the Colonial Secretary's office. In 1861 Gisborne married Caroline, daughter of Assistant-commissary-general Bridgen. He continued in his official position until 1869, when Fox appointed him to the Legislative Council and the ministry, with the portfolio of Colonial Secretary. Shortly afterwards he was appointed Commissioner for the Government Life Insurance office, which he administered until 1876.

While on a visit to Taranaki (1871), Gisborne was persuaded to accept nomination for the Egmont seat in Parliament, to which he was elected unopposed. The constituency thanked him for saving it the expense and trouble of an election. For a few weeks in 1870 he was Minister of Public Works. When the Fox Government was defeated (Sep 1872) Gisborne resigned his seat in Parliament in terms of the disqualification act. While he was absent in London in 1877 he was again returned to Parliament, by the electors of Totara (Westland), as a supporter of Grey; and during the last few weeks of the Grey administration (Jul-Oct 1879) he was Minister of Lands, Mines and Immigration. Shortly after his return to Parliament he succeeded his brother in the possession of several country homes in England, and in 1881 he went to reside there. In 1892, as heir of his cousin Sir Thomas W. Evans, he came into possession of Allestree Hall, Derby, where he lived for the remainder of his life, taking his part in the affairs of the county, of which he was a deputy-lieutenant, as well as being a magistrate for Herefordshire.

Gisborne devoted much of his later years to literature. He was a shrewd judge of character. Reeves says of his Rulers and Statesmen of New Zealand (first published in 1886) that it is written 'with such undoubted fairness and personal knowledge, and in so workmanlike, albeit good-natured, a way as to have a permanent interest.' In 1889 he published The Colony of New Zealand. As a public official Gisborne stood high at a time when the service was not strong, and he acted as chairman of the royal commission which endeavoured to devise a better system of promotion and pensions. He was a sound administrator with a good financial head and the aloof disposition of the statesman. Gisborne was for some years chairman of the governors of Wellington College. In 1886 he acted as one of the New Zealand commission for the Colonial and India Exhibition. While in New Zealand Gisborne delivered many thoughtful addresses on such topics as socialism (Mechanics' Institute, Auckland, 1852; Wellington 1871). He died on 7 Jan 1898.

Parltry Record; N.Z.P.D.; D.N.B.; Col. Gent.; App. H.R., pass; Leckie; Saunders; Reeves; Arnold; Mennell; Gisborne, op. cit.; The Times, 8 Jan 1898; N.Z. Herald, 25 Feb 1898. Portrait: Parliament House.

Reference: Volume 1, page 167

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