Milford Sound, New Zealand, by James Crow Richmond…

James Crowe Richmond (1822 - 1898)

New Zealand politician and artist, prominent in the political and intellectual life of c.19th Taranaki.Born 1822 at Kensington, London and educated privately and trained as a civil engineer, acquiring practical skills that would later prove valuable in the developing colony of New Zealand. In 1850 Richmond emigrated to New Zealand with members of his family, settling in Taranaki. The Richmond family quickly became influential in provincial affairs; his brother, Christopher William Richmond, later served as a judge of the Supreme Court. James Crowe Richmond established himself as a surveyor and engineer and was soon drawn into public life during the formative years of colonial self-government. With the establishment of provincial institutions under the New Zealand Constitution Act 1852, Richmond entered politics. Richmond was known for his intellectual and artistic interests. He was a capable watercolourist, producing landscapes and studies of New Zealand scenery that reflect both technical training and a sensitive observation of the colonial environment. His circle included leading cultural figures, and he maintained a lifelong engagement with literature, theology, and education. In later life Richmond withdrew from the forefront of politics but remained a respected public figure in Taranaki. He died on 8 August 1898 at New Plymouth.

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