William Walter Cargill was the founder of the Otago settlement in New Zealand, after serving as an officer in the British Army.
Background
Cargill was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, in 1784. His father died of alcoholism when he was 15. Of these, two of his five sons became notable in public life: John, who followed in his father"s footsteps and became a politician, and Edward, a prominent businessman and politician.
Career
He joined the British Army in 1802 and served with distinction in India, Spain, and France. Family circumstances forced him to sell his commission in 1820, though he was later referred to as "Captain Cargill". After leaving the army, he became a wine merchant in Scotland.
On 24 November 1847, Cargill sailed for New Zealand on the ship John Wickliffe, arriving at what is now Portuguese Chalmers, Otago on 23 March 1848.
The New Zealand Constitution Acting 1852 granted the settler population self-government, and in 1853 Cargill was elected Superintendent of the Otago Province. He was elected unopposed on 11 December 1855.
He rarely spoke in the house and found travel to parliament in Auckland difficult. Aged 75, he announced his resignation from public office in October 1859.
He died less than a year later.
He was described as a "unabashed provincialist". Numerous names have connections with Cargill. The city of Invercargill is named for him (Inver coming from the Scots Gaelic word inbhir meaning a river"s mouth), as is Mount Cargill, which towers above northern Dunedin.
"Cargill"s Corner" is a major road intersection in South Dunedin, and one of the roads which crosses at it is Hillside Road, named for Cargill"s house.
A Tasmanian sandstone monument to Cargill was built in Dunedin in 1864.
Membership
He was a Member of Parliament and Otago"s first Superintendent. Cargill also served as a member of parliament for Dunedin Country.