Frederick Fitchett
{{Short description|New Zealand politician}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2025}}
{{Use New Zealand English|date=August 2014}}
{{Infobox officeholder
|honorific-prefix =
|name = Frederick Fitchett
|honorific-suffix = {{post-nominals|country=NZL|CMG|size=100%}}
|image = Frederick Fitchett.jpg
|caption =
|constituency_MP1 = Dunedin Central
|parliament1 = New Zealand
|term_start1 = 1887
|term_end1 = 1890
|predecessor1 = Thomas Bracken
|successor1 = Constituency abolished
|order2 = Solicitor-General of New Zealand
|term_start2 = 1901
|term_end2 = 1910
|predecessor2 = Walter Scott Reid
|successor2 = John Salmond
|order3 = New Zealand Public Trustee
|term_start3 = 1910
|term_end3 = 1917
|predecessor3 = Joseph William Poynton
|successor3 = Robert Triggs{{cite news | url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/EP19170926.2.84.1 | title=New department heads | work=Evening Post | date=26 September 1917 | page=8| access-date=31 January 2017}}
|birth_date = 1851
|birth_place = Grantham, Lincolnshire, England
|death_date = {{Death date and given age|1930|10|05|79|df=y}}
|death_place = Auckland, New Zealand
|party = Independent
|otherparty =
|spouse = {{marriage|Lina Valerie Blain|1890}}
|relations =
|children =
|occupation =
|profession = Barrister
|religion =
|signature =
}}
Frederick Fitchett {{post-nominals|country=NZL|CMG|size=85%}} (1851 – 5 October 1930) was a 19th-century member of parliament from Dunedin, New Zealand.
Biography
{{NZ parlbox header|nolist=true|align=left}}
{{NZ parlbox|party=Independent politician|start=1887|end=1890|electorate=Dunedin Central|term=10th}}
{{End}}
Born in 1851 in Grantham, Lincolnshire, England,{{cite book |url=http://nzetc.victoria.ac.nz/tm/scholarly/tei-Cyc01Cycl-t1-body-d3-d15-d7.html |chapter=Crown law office | page=136 | title=Cyclopedia of New Zealand (Wellington Provincial District) |year=1897 |publisher=Cyclopedia Company | place=Wellington |access-date=31 January 2017}} Fitchett was educated at the University of Melbourne and Canterbury University College, Christchurch, graduating Bachelor of Arts in 1879 and Master of Arts in 1880.{{cite news | url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/ODT19301006.2.60 | title=Dr Frederick Fitchett | date=6 October 1930 | work=Otago Daily Times | page=8 | access-date=31 January 2017}} He was admitted to the Bar the following year, and began practising law in Dunedin. In 1887 he was conferred with an LLD from Canterbury.{{cite web | url=http://shadowsoftime.co.nz/university9.html | title=NZ university graduates 1870–1961: F | website=Shadows of Time | access-date=31 January 2017}}
Fitchett represented the Dunedin Central electorate from 1887 to 1890, when he retired.{{sfn|Wilson|1985|pp=196}} In 1890 he was the junior opposition whip.{{sfn|Wilson|1985|pp=279}} In 1890 Fitchett visited London, where he married Lina Valerie Blain at St Simon's Church, Cadogan Square, on 16 April.{{cite news | url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/ESD18900528.2.20 | title=Our London letter | work="Evening Star | date=28 May 1890 | page=2 | access-date=31 January 2017}} The couple had one son.
In 1895 Fitchett was appointed as the parliamentary draughtsman and assistant Crown law officer. He served as solicitor-general from 1901 to 1910,{{cite news | url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19100201.2.35 | title=The public service: some important changes | date=1 February 1910 | work=The Press | page=8 | access-date=31 January 2017}} and represented New Zealand at the 1907 conference of French, British and colonial representatives that considered the New Hebrides question. He was appointed public trustee in 1910, and remained in that role until his retirement in 1917.{{cite news | url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/ST19171001.2.27 | title=The public trustee | date=1 October 1917 | work=Southland Times | page=5 | access-date=31 January 2017}} In the 1911 Coronation Honours Fitchett was appointed a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George.{{London Gazette |issue=28505 |date=19 June 1911 |page=4594 |supp=y }}
Fitchett was a member of the senate of the University of New Zealand from 1883 until 1915. He died in Auckland on 5 October 1930,{{cite news | url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZH19301006.2.2.5 | title=Deaths | work=The New Zealand Herald | page=1 | date=6 October 1930| access-date=31 January 2017}} and his ashes were buried at Waikumete Cemetery.{{cite web | url=http://waitakere.govt.nz/cnlser/cm/cemeterysearch/cemeterydetails.aspx?id=125094 | title=Cemetery search details | publisher=Auckland Council | access-date=31 January 2017}}
Notes
{{Reflist}}
References
- {{cite book |last= Wilson |first= James Oakley |title= New Zealand parliamentary record, 1840-1984 |edition= 4 |orig-year= First ed. published 1913 |year= 1985 |publisher= V.R. Ward, Govt. Printer |location= Wellington |oclc= 154283103 }}
{{s-start}}
{{s-par | nz}}
{{s-bef | before = Thomas Bracken}}
{{s-ttl | title= Member of Parliament for Dunedin Central| years=1887–1890}}
{{s-vac | abeyance | next = John A. Millar}}
{{end}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Fitchett, Frederick}}
Category:British emigrants to New Zealand
Category:University of Canterbury alumni
Category:Members of the New Zealand House of Representatives
Category:New Zealand MPs for Dunedin electorates
Category:Independent MPs of New Zealand
Category:19th-century New Zealand public servants
Category:Solicitors-general of New Zealand
Category:19th-century New Zealand politicians
Category:New Zealand Companions of the Order of St Michael and St George