Robert McNab (1 October 1864 – 3 February 1917) was a New Zealand lawyer, farmer, historian, and politician of the

Liberal Party The Liberal Party is any of many political parties around the world. The meaning of ''liberal'' varies around the world, ranging from liberal conservatism on the right to social liberalism on the left. For example, while the political systems ...

. He was

Minister of Justice A justice ministry, ministry of justice, or department of justice, is a ministry or other government agency in charge of the administration of justice. The ministry or department is often headed by a minister of justice (minister for justice in a ...

for the 18 months before his death.

Early life

McNab was born in 1864 at Dunragget farm near

Invercargill Invercargill ( , ) is the southernmost and westernmost list of cities in New Zealand, city in New Zealand, and one of the Southernmost settlements, southernmost cities in the world. It is the commercial centre of the Southland Region, Southlan ...

. His parents were Janet and Alexander McNab, a runholder. His father represented the Murihiku electorate on the

Otago Provincial Council The Otago Province was a Provinces of New Zealand, province of New Zealand until the abolition of provincial government in 1876. The capital of the province was Dunedin. Southland Province split from Otago in 1861, but became part of the provin ...

(1858–1861), and the Cambelltown electorate on the

Southland Provincial Council The Southland Province was a province of New Zealand from March 1861, when it split from Otago Province, until 1870, when it rejoined Otago. History Following the passage of the New Zealand Constitution Act 1852 by the British Parliament, New ...

(1861–1865), and was for short periods on the Southland Executive Council and the council's Speaker. Robert McNab received his education from Invercargill District High School and the

University of Otago The University of Otago () is a public university, public research university, research collegiate university based in Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand. Founded in 1869, Otago is New Zealand's oldest university and one of the oldest universities in ...

, from where he graduated with a BA in 1893, an MA in mathematics and mathematical physics in 1885, and

LLB A Bachelor of Laws (; LLB) is an undergraduate law degree offered in most common law countries as the primary law degree and serves as the first professional qualification for legal practitioners. This degree requires the study of core legal subje ...

in 1891. He was admitted to the bar in 1889 and had a law practice in Invercargill from 1890 to 1896, which was followed by running the family farm on the upper

Mataura River The Mataura River is in the Southland Region of the South Island of New Zealand. It is long. Description The river's headwaters are located in the Eyre Mountains to the south of Lake Wakatipu. From there it flows southeast towards Gore, New ...

Political career

He represented the

Mataura Mataura is a town in the Southland region of the South Island of New Zealand. Mataura has a meat processing plant, and until 2000 it was the site of a large pulp and paper mill. Geography Mataura is situated on and the Main South Line rail ...

electorate from 1893 to 1896 when he was defeated by George Richardson. In 1898 Richardson was adjudged bankrupt. McNab won the subsequent

by-election A by-election, also known as a special election in the United States and the Philippines, or a bypoll in India, is an election used to fill an office that has become vacant between general elections. A vacancy may arise as a result of an incumben ...

, and held the seat again to 1908 when he was again defeated, by

George James Anderson George James Anderson (1860 – 15 December 1935) was a Reform Party Member of Parliament, and a minister in the Reform Government from 1912 to 1928. Biography He won the Mataura electorate in Southland in the 1908 general election ...

. In 1914 he won the

Hawkes Bay Hawke's Bay () is a region on the east coast of New Zealand's North Island. The region is named for Hawke Bay, which was named in honour of Edward Hawke. The region's main centres are the cities of Napier and Hastings, while the more rural ...

seat, which he held until he died in 1917. He was a Cabinet Minister, and was

Minister of Lands The Minister of Lands in New Zealand was a cabinet position appointed by the Prime Minister to be in charge of the Department of Lands and Survey The Department of Lands and Survey was a government department in New Zealand that managed the ad ...

, and Minister of Agriculture, from 1906 to 1908 in the Ward Ministry. He was

Minister of Marine One of France's Secretaries of State under the Ancien Régime was entrusted with control of the French Navy ( Secretary of State of the Navy (France).) In 1791, this title was changed to Minister of the Navy. Before January 1893, this position als ...

, and Minister of Stamp Duties from 1915 to his death in 1917 in the Reform Government when Reform was in a temporary wartime coalition with the Liberals.

Historical work

McNab began researching New Zealand history in the late 1890s, and published numerous articles and books including the ''Historical Records of New Zealand'' at the request of the government. In 1913 McNab donated his collection of 4,200 books on history and geography to the Dunedin Public Library, with the condition the collection be added to continually. , the McNab New Zealand Collection contains around 83,000 items.

Death

McNab, who never married, died in

Wellington Wellington is the capital city of New Zealand. It is located at the south-western tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Remutaka Range. Wellington is the third-largest city in New Zealand (second largest in the North Island ...

on 3 February 1917. He was buried in Invercargill.

Notes

References

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External links

Photo of Hon. Robert McNab, supporter of Prohibition

Biography at Dunedin Public Libraries
, - , - {{DEFAULTSORT:McNab, Robert 1864 births 1917 deaths Burials at Eastern Cemetery, Invercargill New Zealand farmers 20th-century New Zealand historians New Zealand maritime historians 19th-century New Zealand lawyers New Zealand Liberal Party MPs Members of the Cabinet of New Zealand University of Otago alumni Members of the New Zealand House of Representatives New Zealand MPs for South Island electorates New Zealand MPs for North Island electorates Unsuccessful candidates in the 1896 New Zealand general election Unsuccessful candidates in the 1908 New Zealand general election Unsuccessful candidates in the 1911 New Zealand general election 19th-century New Zealand politicians 19th-century New Zealand historians Ministers of justice of New Zealand Ministers of agriculture of New Zealand