Career
He was chosen by English backers as manager for the new Bank of Otago and emigrated to New Zealand within months. There was a great depression during the mid-1860s and Bathgate had lost money to the Commercial Banking Company, and had allowed the Southland Provincial Council to overdraw well beyond the agreed limit. These events put an end to Bathgate"s banking career.
From June 1871 to November 1872, he served on the Executive Council of the Otago Province.
He represented two Dunedin electorates in the House of Representatives, first the City of Dunedin electorate from 1871 to 1874, when he resigned to take up the offer by Premier Julius Vogel of resident magistrate in Dunedin and district judge for Otago, and the Roslyn electorate from 1881 to 1884, when he was defeated. He was buried at Dunedin Northern Cemetery.
He was the father of Alexander Bathgate.
