This is Henry's actual burial place. He is also listed in St. Anne's in Delaware, USA but is NOT buried there.
Southern People, A Dictionary of Otago Southland Biography.' Edited by Jane Thompson. Published to Commemorate the 150th Anniversary of Otago & Southland. Original essay written by Ron Tyrell.
DRIVER, Henry (1831-1893) was a typical risk-taking capitalist of his age, He was born in Delaware, the son of Joseph Edmonston and Mary Jemima Driver. As a young man he went to the Victorian goldfields, and became an employee of Lord & Co. importers of American merchandise, before becoming a partner in a sheep station on the Murray River.
In 1861, he established himself in Dunedin as a horse trader, and later as a merchant and stock agent in Drive, Maclean & Co. In 1862 he married Mary Frances Morton, and soon afterwards secured the contract for a telegraph line from Dunedin to Port Chalmers - the second in New Zealand. Becoming a public figure, he was a JP, Dunedin City Councillor 1865-68, member of the Otago Provincial Council 1866-71 and a member of parliament for Roslyn 1869-71. Before Dunedin's first Royal visit in 1869, Driver suggested that no money be spent on special celebrations and city councillors escort the Duke of Edinburgh on informal tours - a suggestion not taken up.
His firm expanded rapidly with interests in several runs, but the Dunedin manager of the Bank of New South Wales allowed its loans to exceed the limits set by his Australian superiors. The Melbourne manager described Henry Driver as 'a swaggering unprincipled Yankee who will some day clear off with some of our coin.' They prevent this, in July 1871 Driver, Maclean & Co. were forced into bankruptcy. Driver had to resign his Provincial Council and Parliamentary seats, and his warrant as a JP.
He was resilient however both in business and politics. With the dismissed manager of the bank, he set up a new business partnership, Driver & Stewart. When this firm was merged in the NZ Loan and Mercantile Agency Co. he became manager, and later of the Mutual Agency Co. From 1872-76, he was again a member of the Provincial Council, member of Parliament for Roslyn 1878-81 and Hokonui 1881-84.
His land speculations included the freeholding of runs at Conical Hill and Waimea Plains with Australian loan money. He also purchased the freehold of the Horseshoe Bush Estate at Clarendon. With other wealthy men such as William Larnach and G M Bell he was heavily involved in the ambitious schemes of the NZ Agricultural Co. which collapsed in 1890.
A racing man and foundation member of the Dunedin Jockey Club, in 1877 Driver persuaded R C Bagot to travel from Melbourne with the plans of the Geelong racecourse, and arranged for the laying out of Forbury Park along similar lines. For several seasons Driver was a starter, later a judge, and president of the Jockey Club 1879-80.
See also Henry Driver at Old St. Anne's Cemetery /a>
Southern People, A Dictionary of Otago Southland Biography.' Edited by Jane Thompson. Published to Commemorate the 150th Anniversary of Otago & Southland. Original essay written by Ron Tyrell.
DRIVER, Henry (1831-1893) was a typical risk-taking capitalist of his age, He was born in Delaware, the son of Joseph Edmonston and Mary Jemima Driver. As a young man he went to the Victorian goldfields, and became an employee of Lord & Co. importers of American merchandise, before becoming a partner in a sheep station on the Murray River.
In 1861, he established himself in Dunedin as a horse trader, and later as a merchant and stock agent in Drive, Maclean & Co. In 1862 he married Mary Frances Morton, and soon afterwards secured the contract for a telegraph line from Dunedin to Port Chalmers - the second in New Zealand. Becoming a public figure, he was a JP, Dunedin City Councillor 1865-68, member of the Otago Provincial Council 1866-71 and a member of parliament for Roslyn 1869-71. Before Dunedin's first Royal visit in 1869, Driver suggested that no money be spent on special celebrations and city councillors escort the Duke of Edinburgh on informal tours - a suggestion not taken up.
His firm expanded rapidly with interests in several runs, but the Dunedin manager of the Bank of New South Wales allowed its loans to exceed the limits set by his Australian superiors. The Melbourne manager described Henry Driver as 'a swaggering unprincipled Yankee who will some day clear off with some of our coin.' They prevent this, in July 1871 Driver, Maclean & Co. were forced into bankruptcy. Driver had to resign his Provincial Council and Parliamentary seats, and his warrant as a JP.
He was resilient however both in business and politics. With the dismissed manager of the bank, he set up a new business partnership, Driver & Stewart. When this firm was merged in the NZ Loan and Mercantile Agency Co. he became manager, and later of the Mutual Agency Co. From 1872-76, he was again a member of the Provincial Council, member of Parliament for Roslyn 1878-81 and Hokonui 1881-84.
His land speculations included the freeholding of runs at Conical Hill and Waimea Plains with Australian loan money. He also purchased the freehold of the Horseshoe Bush Estate at Clarendon. With other wealthy men such as William Larnach and G M Bell he was heavily involved in the ambitious schemes of the NZ Agricultural Co. which collapsed in 1890.
A racing man and foundation member of the Dunedin Jockey Club, in 1877 Driver persuaded R C Bagot to travel from Melbourne with the plans of the Geelong racecourse, and arranged for the laying out of Forbury Park along similar lines. For several seasons Driver was a starter, later a judge, and president of the Jockey Club 1879-80.
See also Henry Driver at Old St. Anne's Cemetery /a>
This is Henry's actual burial place. He is also listed in St. Anne's in Delaware, USA but is NOT buried there.
Southern People, A Dictionary of Otago Southland Biography.' Edited by Jane Thompson. Published to Commemorate the 150th Anniversary of Otago & Southland. Original essay written by Ron Tyrell.
DRIVER, Henry (1831-1893) was a typical risk-taking capitalist of his age, He was born in Delaware, the son of Joseph Edmonston and Mary Jemima Driver. As a young man he went to the Victorian goldfields, and became an employee of Lord & Co. importers of American merchandise, before becoming a partner in a sheep station on the Murray River.
In 1861, he established himself in Dunedin as a horse trader, and later as a merchant and stock agent in Drive, Maclean & Co. In 1862 he married Mary Frances Morton, and soon afterwards secured the contract for a telegraph line from Dunedin to Port Chalmers - the second in New Zealand. Becoming a public figure, he was a JP, Dunedin City Councillor 1865-68, member of the Otago Provincial Council 1866-71 and a member of parliament for Roslyn 1869-71. Before Dunedin's first Royal visit in 1869, Driver suggested that no money be spent on special celebrations and city councillors escort the Duke of Edinburgh on informal tours - a suggestion not taken up.
His firm expanded rapidly with interests in several runs, but the Dunedin manager of the Bank of New South Wales allowed its loans to exceed the limits set by his Australian superiors. The Melbourne manager described Henry Driver as 'a swaggering unprincipled Yankee who will some day clear off with some of our coin.' They prevent this, in July 1871 Driver, Maclean & Co. were forced into bankruptcy. Driver had to resign his Provincial Council and Parliamentary seats, and his warrant as a JP.
He was resilient however both in business and politics. With the dismissed manager of the bank, he set up a new business partnership, Driver & Stewart. When this firm was merged in the NZ Loan and Mercantile Agency Co. he became manager, and later of the Mutual Agency Co. From 1872-76, he was again a member of the Provincial Council, member of Parliament for Roslyn 1878-81 and Hokonui 1881-84.
His land speculations included the freeholding of runs at Conical Hill and Waimea Plains with Australian loan money. He also purchased the freehold of the Horseshoe Bush Estate at Clarendon. With other wealthy men such as William Larnach and G M Bell he was heavily involved in the ambitious schemes of the NZ Agricultural Co. which collapsed in 1890.
A racing man and foundation member of the Dunedin Jockey Club, in 1877 Driver persuaded R C Bagot to travel from Melbourne with the plans of the Geelong racecourse, and arranged for the laying out of Forbury Park along similar lines. For several seasons Driver was a starter, later a judge, and president of the Jockey Club 1879-80.
See also Henry Driver at Old St. Anne's Cemetery /a>
Southern People, A Dictionary of Otago Southland Biography.' Edited by Jane Thompson. Published to Commemorate the 150th Anniversary of Otago & Southland. Original essay written by Ron Tyrell.
DRIVER, Henry (1831-1893) was a typical risk-taking capitalist of his age, He was born in Delaware, the son of Joseph Edmonston and Mary Jemima Driver. As a young man he went to the Victorian goldfields, and became an employee of Lord & Co. importers of American merchandise, before becoming a partner in a sheep station on the Murray River.
In 1861, he established himself in Dunedin as a horse trader, and later as a merchant and stock agent in Drive, Maclean & Co. In 1862 he married Mary Frances Morton, and soon afterwards secured the contract for a telegraph line from Dunedin to Port Chalmers - the second in New Zealand. Becoming a public figure, he was a JP, Dunedin City Councillor 1865-68, member of the Otago Provincial Council 1866-71 and a member of parliament for Roslyn 1869-71. Before Dunedin's first Royal visit in 1869, Driver suggested that no money be spent on special celebrations and city councillors escort the Duke of Edinburgh on informal tours - a suggestion not taken up.
His firm expanded rapidly with interests in several runs, but the Dunedin manager of the Bank of New South Wales allowed its loans to exceed the limits set by his Australian superiors. The Melbourne manager described Henry Driver as 'a swaggering unprincipled Yankee who will some day clear off with some of our coin.' They prevent this, in July 1871 Driver, Maclean & Co. were forced into bankruptcy. Driver had to resign his Provincial Council and Parliamentary seats, and his warrant as a JP.
He was resilient however both in business and politics. With the dismissed manager of the bank, he set up a new business partnership, Driver & Stewart. When this firm was merged in the NZ Loan and Mercantile Agency Co. he became manager, and later of the Mutual Agency Co. From 1872-76, he was again a member of the Provincial Council, member of Parliament for Roslyn 1878-81 and Hokonui 1881-84.
His land speculations included the freeholding of runs at Conical Hill and Waimea Plains with Australian loan money. He also purchased the freehold of the Horseshoe Bush Estate at Clarendon. With other wealthy men such as William Larnach and G M Bell he was heavily involved in the ambitious schemes of the NZ Agricultural Co. which collapsed in 1890.
A racing man and foundation member of the Dunedin Jockey Club, in 1877 Driver persuaded R C Bagot to travel from Melbourne with the plans of the Geelong racecourse, and arranged for the laying out of Forbury Park along similar lines. For several seasons Driver was a starter, later a judge, and president of the Jockey Club 1879-80.
See also Henry Driver at Old St. Anne's Cemetery /a>
Inscription
In Loving Memory of Henry Driver 1893
Joshua Morton Driver 1888
Edmondson Driver 1910
Mary Frances Driver 1923
Family Members
Siblings
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