Martin Chapman
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2016}}
{{Use New Zealand English|date=November 2016}}
{{Infobox cricketer
| name = Martin Chapman
| image = Martin Chapman KC.jpg
| caption = Chapman in bout 1907
| birth_date = {{birth date|df=yes|1846|03|23}}
| birth_place = Karori, Wellington, New Zealand
| death_date = {{death date and age|df=yes|1924|03|17|1846|03|23}}
| death_place = Wellington, New Zealand
| club1 = Otago
| year1 = {{nowrap|1864/65–1867/68}}
| hidedeliveries = true
| columns = 1
| column1 = First-class
| matches1 = 3
| runs1 = 21
| bat avg1 = 5.25
| 100s/50s1 = 0/0
| top score1 = 12
| catches/stumpings1 = 1/–
| source = https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/21/21630/21630.html CricketArchive
| date = 27 February
| year = 2024
}}
Martin Chapman {{post-nominals|country=NZL|KC}} (26 March 1846 – 17 March 1924) was a New Zealand barrister. The law firm founded by him in 1875 still exists as Chapman Tripp. He also played first-class cricket for Otago.
Early life
Chapman was born in 1846 in the Wellington suburb of Karori, the third son of Henry Samuel Chapman.{{cite news | title=Obituary | url=http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=NZH19240318.2.134 | accessdate=13 February 2015 | work=The New Zealand Herald | volume=LXI | issue=18661 | date=18 March 1924 | page=10}}{{cite book |title=The Cyclopedia of New Zealand : Wellington Provincial District |year=1897 |url=http://nzetc.victoria.ac.nz/tm/scholarly/tei-Cyc01Cycl-t1-body-d4-d13-d53.html#name-413959-mention |publisher=The Cyclopedia of New Zealand |author=Cyclopedia Company Limited |accessdate= 13 February 2015 |location=Wellington |chapter=Mr. Martin Chapman}} Frederick Chapman was a younger brother. He received his education at the Melbourne Grammar School and in London, and was called to the bar of the Inner Temple in 1871.{{cite news | title=Mr Martin Chapman | url=http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=CHP19070608.2.59.4 | accessdate=13 February 2015 | work=The Press | volume=LXIII | issue=12825 | date=8 June 1907 | page=10}} As a young man, he was a keen sportsman and owned several yachts.{{cite news|title=Martin Chapman, K.C.|url=http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=EP19240317.2.97.1|accessdate=13 February 2015|work=The Evening Post|volume=65|issue=65|date=17 March 1924|page=8}} He played three first-class matches for Otago between 1864 and 1868.{{Cite web|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/player/36690.html |title=Martin Chapman |accessdate=7 May 2016 |work=ESPN Cricinfo}}
Professional career
Chapman returned to New Zealand in 1875 and started to practise on his own account. He was joined in 1882 by William Fitzgerald, a son of James FitzGerald. His partner died in June 1888,{{cite news|title=Death|url=http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=THD18880604.2.7|accessdate=13 February 2015|work=The Timaru Herald|volume=XLVI|issue=4255|date=4 June 1888|page=2}} and Leonard Owen Howard Tripp joined as the new partner. The name of the firm changed several times due to amalgamations and changes in partners, but reverted to Chapman Tripp in 1949, under which it is still known today.
Chapman was among the first seven King's Counsel to be appointed in New Zealand in 1907.{{cite news | title=Late Mr Martin Chapman | url=http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=NZH19240321.2.133 | accessdate=13 February 2015 | work=The New Zealand Herald | volume=LXI | issue=18664 | date=21 March 1924 | page=10}} He retired in 1912.
Other activities and death
Chapman took over the editorship of the New Zealand Law Reports after Fitzgerald's death. Chapman was a Wellington City Councillor (1888–1890) and a member of the council of the Wellington Law Society. He had an aptitude for languages and as a young man, he became proficient in French and German. He later learned Spanish, Italian, and Portuguese, and Dutch when he was at old age. He once gave as his reason for taking up Spanish because he planned to go on a trip to that country, and could not bear the thought of not being able to read the local newspapers.
Chapman died at his home in Golder's Hill (since renamed to Eccleston Hill) in Thorndon on 17 March 1924 aged 78. The funeral service was held at St Paul's Cathedral, after which he was cremated.{{cite web|title=Details|date = 12 July 2012|url=http://wellington.govt.nz/services/community-and-culture/cemeteries/cemeteries-search/details?id=323&serviceType=Cremation|publisher=Wellington City Council|accessdate=13 February 2015}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Chapman, Martin}}
Category:Wellington City Councillors
Category:People educated at Melbourne Grammar School
Category:New Zealand King's Counsel
Category:Members of the Inner Temple