His Excellency The Governor, the Right Honourable Sir William Lee Plunket , K.C.M.G., K.C.V.O., fifth Baron Plunket. Governor in and over the Colony of New Zealand and its dependencies, was born on the 19th of December, 1864. He is the son of the fourth Baron, who was Archbishop of Dublin and Primate of Ireland, and of Annie Lee, eldest daughter of Sir Benjamin Lee Guinness, and sister of Lord Ardiiaun and Lord Iveagh. The barony was created in the year 1827, and the first holder of the title became Lord High Chancellor of Ireland in 1830. The second Baron was Bishop of Tuam in 1839. His Excellency was educated at Harrow, and at Trinity College, Dublin, where he graduated B.A. At Harrow he was a member of the rifle team which represented his school, and while at Trinity he was captain of the College Rowing Club. Lord Plunket joined the diplomatic service in 1889, as Honorary Attache to the British Embassy at Rome, where he continued till 1892. During the succeeding two years he held a similar position at Constantinople, and retired at the end of that period. Subsequently he was appointed Private Secretary to Lord Cadogan, Lord Lieutenant of Ireland. In that position he had to arrange all the details in connection with Queen Victoria's visit to Ireland, and Her Majesty decorated him with the C.V.O. His Excellency was also Private Secretary to the Earl of Dudley, when that nobleman was Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, and had much work to do in connection with the two visits made to Ireland by King Edward the Seventh, who raised him to a higher grade of the Royal Victorian Order (K.C.V.O.). Lord Plunket is a Freemason, and was a member of the Grand Lodge of Ireland until he came to New Zealand. The Grand Lodge of New Zealand has proposed him to the brethren for election as Grand Master at the next vacancy. His Excellency is a Knight of Grace of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem, in England. In the year 1894 His Excellency married Victoria Alexandrina, youngest daughter of Frederick, first Marquis of Dufferin and Ava, and has two sons and four daughters. Lord Plunket was appointed Governor of New Zealand on the 9th of March, 1904, and assumed office on the 20th of June in that year. His residence is Old Connaught, Bray, County Wicklow, Ireland, and he is a member of the Carlton Club, and of the Royal St. George Yacht Club.