1851: The Old Man of New Ulster

January 8, 2020

By AHNZ

Today in history, 8 January, 1851, New Ulster lost its first Lieutenant-Governor. Major-General George Dean-Pitt died at the age of 79 (or 70.) He had been politically and militarily in charge of the entire North Island, aka New Ulster, second to Governor George Grey.

Born a bastard, George Dean was the son, not not heir, to an English baron. George changed his name to Dean-Pitt and worked his way up to the top through the British Army. The entire time of his 2yr rule of New Ulster (1848-51) the old man was sick; Dying as it turns out. He was at least 70 by this time however his grave in Symonds Street Cemetery states he was 79 years of age! Buried in such a prime place beside his son and Governor Hobson, in New Zealand’s capital city of Auckland, could detail have been wrongly recorded?

“Showing the graves and tombstones of Major General George Dean Pitt K H and William Augustus Dean-Pitt in the Anglican section of Symonds Street Cemetery. The inscriptions read…In memory of his excellency major General George Dean Pitt K H Lieutenant General of the Northern Province of New Zealand and Comander of H M forces of the colony, died 8 January 1851 aged 79 years”- Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections with 1950s photo of the graves

So why would anyone want to put a septuagenarian in charge of half of New Zealand? In my estimate, Governor Grey liked that arrangement perfectly well. He wanted to be the Big Boss of the Colony himself and not take any flack from his underlings. His other Lieutenant-Governor, for New Munster Province, Edward John Eyre, was a celebrity explorer with no political experience. Dean-Pitt was more of a figurehead exerting his power through delegation to his juniors. However, they were first and foremost delegates of the more powerful man- Governor Grey.

“Pitt and Grey had known each other for years, indeed George Dean Pitt had been one of his father’s friends and had been present at the Seige of Badajoz where Sir George Grey’s father, Colonel Grey was killed.”- KRoad.com

“During the periods in which the Governor-in-Chief being absent, he wielded this authority, scarcely anything was called for beyond routine official acts, and few, if any, political associations are connected with his memory.”- New Zealander 11 January 1851; KRoad.com

Governor Grey was not able to attend the funeral, he was away visiting the Otago Settlers and (I assume) the brand new Canterbury Settlers too. Apart from the grave, Pitt is perhaps remembered by Pitt Street in Auckland Central whereabouts he lived. Earlier it had been spelled “Pyt” for Governor Hobson’s preference. However, as well or instead, Pitt Street may have been made to replicate Sydney’s earlier example of their Pitt Street named for Prime Minister Pitt of Great Britain.

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Image ref. Portrait KRoad.com

Image ref. Graves Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections

Image ref. Graves; AHNZ Archives (2019)

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