Sir George Grey

Sir George Grey 1812-98, British colonial administrator. He explored the Swan River district in NW Australia (1838) and later was governor of South Australia (1841-45) and of New Zealand (1845-53). As governor of Cape Colony (1854-60), he advocated federation for the South African territories. When war broke out between Maori natives and English settlers, Grey returned to New Zealand as governor (1861-68), but his efforts to end the fighting were fruitless. After brief residence in London he returned to live in New Zealand, where as premier (1877-79) he advocated important social reforms. Polynesian Mythology (1855) is his most important book.

Bibliography: See biography by J. Rutherford (1961).

Grey, Sir George (1812–98) British colonial administrator. He served as governor of South Australia (1841–45) and of New Zealand (1845–53; 1861–68), where he oversaw the introduction of representative government and gained a reputation for suppressing rebellion and promoting the “amalgamation” of the MAORI people into settler society. After the onset of the TARANAKI WAR, he failed in negotiations with the quasi-nationalist KINGITANGA, and invaded the Waikato in 1863. He ended his governorship in disfavour with the Colonial Office, as the war dragged on.