Harry Atkinson

Atkinson was born in 1831 in Broxton, Cheshire. He was educated at Rochester School, Blackneath.

Atkinson arrived in New Zealand in the Sir Edward Paget, which reached Auckland in May 1853. He was 22 years old, and decided to settle in Taranaki.

Atkinson was plunged into local politics after he became interested in Maori Land Disputes. He was elected to the Taranaki Provincial Council. Soon after the Taranaki Rifle Volunteer company was formed and Atkinson was elected to hold a commission. His volunteers are said to have speedily gained the upper hand in numerous skirmishes.

In June 1861 Atkinson was elected unopposed to represent Gray and Bell in Parliament. While representing the province in Parliament, Atkinson also took command of Forest Rangers, formed in July 1863 with an effective strength of 150.

In February 1864 Atkinson withdrew from provincial politics. When Weld took office in November that year, he chose Atkinson as Defence Minister. A few months later, January 1866, the Weld ministry resigned office and Atkinson withdrew at the dissolution to devote his attention to his own affairs.

His wife died in 1865, and when the New Plymouth seat became available early 1867, Atkinson was elected unopposed. Atkinson visited Great Britain in 1868 and did not return until 1871. Taking advantage of a vacancy for the Egmont seat, Atkinson defeated the sitting member, regaining the floor of the House.

When Vogel became Premier, he had to depart at once for England, and as Pollen was in the Legislative Council Atkinson became the virtual leader of the Government. He became Colonial Treasurer, a position he was to hold with little intermission for 10 years. from 1875 to 1877. Speaker of the Legislative Council 1891.

Atkinson first became Premier from September 1876 to October 1877. He again became Premier in 1883, and later in 1887. When he did return to the position in 1887 it was to a bleak vista of lean years ahead. Atkinson's health steadily declined, and in December 1890 his Government was defeate.