Alfred Brandon (politician)

Brandon was born in London in 1809; his father was Henry Brandon. He was educated as a lawyer. He took an interest in Edward Gibbon Wakefield's ideas on colonisation and came to Wellington, New Zealand, in 1840 on the London as a cabin passenger. ==Political career==

Brandon was elected to the Wellington Provincial Council in its first election in 1853. He represented the Wellington Country electorate until 1865, and then the Porirua electorate until the abolition of the provincial governments in October 1876. He served on various Executive Councils (comparable to a cabinet) between 1857 and 1871. He was Provincial Solicitor during the superintendency of Isaac Featherston. Brandon won with a solid majority. The next election in 1875 was contested by Gillon, Brandon, and J. H. Wallace. Brandon was again successful and received 208 votes versus 141 for Gillon, with Wallace a distant last. Brandon won the and at the end of the parliamentary term in 1881, he retired from politics. He was one of the staunch provincialists (i.e. he was opposed to the abolition of the provinces). He was called to the Legislative Council on 5 June 1883 and served until his death. ==Outside parliament==

Brandon was Crown Prosecutor in Wellington. He was regarded as an expert in conveyancing and in legal drafting. He was on the board of governors of Wellington College. He was director of two insurance companies (Colonial Insurance Co. and Australian Mutual Provident Society). He was president of the Wellington Law Society for a time. ==Family and death==

His first marriage was to Constance Mary Ann Brandon (née Brandon); they married in London in 1840. She left him an infant son, Eustace Brandon, who became a notable artist. His second marriage was to Lucy Poole in 1854, and they were to have three sons and four daughters. His grandson, Alfred Brandon, was a lawyer and military aviator. This registration was done with little involvement of the current property owners. Brandon Street in Wellington Central is named for him. ==Notes==