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The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Auckland Provincial District]

Mr. Thomas Spencer Forsaith

Mr. Thomas Spencer Forsaith sat in the House of Representatives in 1854–55 for the Northern Division, and for the City of Auckland in 1858–60. He was Premier from the 31st of August to the 2nd of September, 1854, when he, Mr. E. J. Wakefield, Mr. W. T. L. Travers, and Mr. James Macandrew were members of the Executive Council without portfolios. This short-lived and virtually nominal Ministry was defeated on an amendment to the address-in-reply. Mr. Forsaith was also a member of the Auckland Provincial Council. He arrived in New Zealand about 1838, and went to Hokianga, Bay of Islands, where he remained for two or three years. He then removed to Auckland, and established himself in business in Queen Street as a draper. Some years later he retired from business and was appointed officiating minister to a Congregational Church in the Wellington district. In the early days Mr. Forsaith was the life and soul of the community in social affairs, and was exceedingly popular. He once went to England on a lecturing tour and was successful in inducing several hundreds of colonists to come to New Zealand. About 1875 he received a call from the Congregational Church in Sydney, and accepted it. Latterly he lived in retirement at Parramatta, near Sydney, and died there in November, 1899.