William Fox (later Sir)

Born 1812, Durham

Died 1893, Auckland, aged 81

Premier from 20 May 1856 to 2 June 1856, 12 July 1861 to 6 August 1862, 28 June 1869 to 10 September 1872 and 3 March 1873 to 8 April 1873

William Fox was born and educated in Durham, attending Durham Grammar School and then Wadfom College, Oxford. He graduated BA in 1832 and MA in 1839.

Fox married Sarah Halcombe in 1842 and a few months later they sailed on the George Fyfe to Wellington where they arrived on 7 November 1842.

He had a number of positions with the New Zealand Company and in 1850 traveled to England to help further the self-governing constitution. One of his major achievements was to stop Taranaki being attached to Auckland, but instead becoming a separate province.

Fox entered Parliament as the MP for Wanganui in December 1855 and also represented Rangitikei from 1860 to 1865.

He had only been in Parliament a few months before moving the resolution which unseated Sewell and led to Fox becoming Premier on 20 May 1856. His first turn at Premier only lasted a fortnight when he was replaced by Edward Stafford.

Fox was strongly against the Maori Wars and in 1860 drew back from imminent retirement to become leader of the anti-war party. He led the parliamentary attack against Stafford and on 12 July 1861 became Premier again. After losing a vote in Parliament on asking the British Government to transfer complete control of native affairs to New Zealand, Fox was replaced by Alfred Domett on 6 August 1862. The vote was actually tied and in an unusual move, lost on Speaker Monro's casting vote.

A year later Fox became Colonial Secretary, and had responsibility for native affairs, under the new Premier Frederick Whitaker. Fox left office when the Ministry resigned on 24 November 1864 and traveled overseas until mid 1868. He again became the MP for Rangitikei in June 1868, and immediately was accepted as leader of the opposition. In 1869 he successfully moved a motion of no confidence which was supported by 40 votes to 29. Fox became Premier for the third time on 28 June 1869

During his third premiership notable legislation was the University of New Zealand Act and the Land Transfer Registration Act. His ministry was defeated in late 1872 and he stood down on 10 September 1872.

Julius Vogel was controlling much of the Government under the premiership of George Waterhouse but was overseas when Waterhouse resigned so Fox became Premier for the fourth and final time on 3 March 1873 until handing over to Vogel on 8 April 1873.

Fox is the only person to have ever severed as Premier or Prime Minister on four occasions.

He retired from Parliament in 1875 but in his absence overseas was elected as MP for Wanganui in 1876. He lost his seat in 1879 but re-entered in May 1880 as MP for Rangitikei until the dissolution later that year. He was knighted KCMG in 1879.

After leaving Parliament Fox spent the rest of his years in Auckland where he was involved in several societies and was a frequent writer.

Fox was a physically strong and indulged in strenuous exercise, climbing Mount Egmont at the age of 80. He dies on 23 June 1893, exactly one year after his wife.