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The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Wellington Provincial District]

Major-General the Hon. Sir George Stoddart Whitmore

Major-General the Hon. Sir George Stoddart Whitmore, K.C.M.G., M.L.C., was Colonial Secretary in the Grey Ministry from the 18th of October, 1877, to the 8th of October, 1879, and a member of the Executive in the Stout-Vogel Government from the 18th to the 28th of August, 1884. He was born at Malta in 1829, received his education at the Edinburgh Academy, and entered the Army as ensign on the 23rd of January, 1847, in the 62nd Foot. On the 21st of May, 1850, he was promoted to a lieutenancy, became captain on the 7th of July, 1854, and brevet-major on the 6th of June, 1856. At the Staff College he was successful in graduating head of the batch of officers in the examination of the year 1860. Sir George Whitmore first saw active service in 1847, during the latter part of the Kaffir war of 1846-7. He was present at the defeat of the Boers at the action of Boem Plaats in 1848. He was with the second division in the Kaffir war of 1850-53, and took part in nearly every engagement, including the storming of the Iron Mountain. From March to November, 1851, he was in command of Sir Harry Smith's escort, and was frequently engaged as staff-officer with the various columns on patrol. As major of brigade he served with the division from November, 1851, and also of the cavalry in the expedition under Sir George Cathcart, which ended in the battle of Berea. The gallant gentleman on two occasions had his horse killed under him, and was repeatedly thanked in brigade and division orders, as well as in the general orders and despatches of his superior officers. He also served as aide-de-camp to Sir H. Storks, K.C.B., at the hospitals of Sungrua and Scutari, and with the 62nd at Sebastopol. Joining the cavalry of the Turkish Contingent he served with it in the Crimea and at Kertch. In 1861 he came to New Zealand as Military Secretary to Sir Duncan Cameron, but the following year he was allured to the life of a settler and retired from the army, making the province of Hawke's Bay his head-quarters. In 1863 he was appointed to the command of the Hawke's Bay Militia and Volunteers, and three years later when the Hau Haus threatened destruction to the settlement of Napier, Colonel Whitmore successfully led two hundred Militia and Volunteers at Omaranui where the rebels were “cut off or captured to a man.” Two years after this he commanded an expedition against Te Kooti, driving that arch rebel into hiding. About the end of 1868 Te Kooti having fortified himself at Ngatapa—a wooded mountain 2500 feet above sea level, said to be the strongest post in the page 79 North Island—Colonel Whitmore was sent by the Government immediately after the Poverty Bay massacre to reduce this stronghold. The siege occupied five days, when the enemy vacated the place, having suffered great loss. After this he want to the West Coast, where he led the Colonial troops from Kai Iwi to Waitara and was successful in routing Titi Kowaru's band in several engagements, completely subduing the rebels and recovering the country that had been abandoned. Colonel Whitmore was then sent to the Uriwera Country to deal with Te Kooti, who had once more gathered together a following. He had scarcely accomplished this mission when the
Major-General the Hon. Sir George Stoddart Whitmore

Photo by Kinsey.

Stafford Ministry was defeated by Mr (afterwards Sir) William Fox, who at once removed Colonel Whitmore from the command of the field forces just at the moment when success was close at hand. Time was thus allowed Te Kooti to recover from his defeats, “and it was consequently eighteen months afterwards before he was again reduced to the same straits.” Colonel Whitmore is a recipient of four war medals from the Imperial and Colonial Governments, and has the order of the Medidgee. In 1871 Her Majesty created him a K O.M.G. He was sailed to the Legislative Council in 1863, and has taken a keen interest in politics since his appointment. About ten years ago Major-General Whitmore was gazetted to the command of the Colonial Forces. The hon. gentleman was married in 1864 to Miss Isabella, daughter of Mr James Smith of Roxeth, Middlesex.