Weld, Sir Frederick Aloysius
Sir Frederick Aloysius Weld, GCMG (1823 – 1891) was born at Chideock Manor, Dorset in May 1823 into distinguished landed gentry – the Weld or Wylde family was one of the leading Roman Catholic families of England. He was educated at Stonyhurst College, Lancashire from 1832-1841, then the University of Fribourg in Switzerland, where he studied philosophy, chemistry, languages and law.
He was first attracted to the Army, but decided instead to seek a career in the colonies and he followed relatives to New Zealand, landing at Wellington in April 1844. He entered a partnership with two cousins, and they established a number of sheep stations around the country. Weld learned quickly, was very capable and became relatively prosperous, but he found a life of agricultural management to be too mundane.
After becoming involved in the Settlers' Constitutional Association in Wellington, Weld entered politics. In 1853 he became a member of the House of Representatives in the first New Zealand Parliament, and in 1854 a special member of the Executive Council.
On a trip back to England, he married a distant cousin and another aristocrat, Filumena Mary Anne deLisle Phillips, in March 1859 at Leicester, England. They would have 13 children in all – five were born in New Zealand (but one died young), two in England, three in Western Australia and three in Tasmania.
Weld, who was very tall, slim, and erect, with a handsome, whiskered face, was a man of gracious manner and noble character. He took a statesman's rather than an administrator's view of questions. Though he had both ability and energy, he was too trustful to be a good judge of men.
In 1860 he became Minister for Native Affairs, and between November 1864 and October 1865 he was Premier & Chief Secretary. As Prime Minister of New Zealand, Weld met with mixed success. He succeeded in moving the capital from Auckland to Wellington, and his proposals for Maori relations were adopted, but these two actions generated considerable bitterness. He arranged the withdrawal of British troops from New Zealand, and this was also controversial. In addition, the country's financial situation was precarious. A little less than a year after taking office, Weld's government resigned. His term of office as Premier, though short, was crucial, and he ranks as one of the founders of New Zealand nationality.
In January 1866 Weld, frustrated and suffering from poor health and stress, announced his retirement from political office, and returned to England the following year.
However his health improved there, and he started working again. Although Weld was asked to return to New Zealand when the Maori conflict resumed in 1868, instead he began a new career as a British colonial governor. In March 1869 he accepted an appointment to the post of Governor of Western Australia where he served from 1869-1875.
Subsequently he became Governor of Tasmania (1875-80) and of Singapore & the Straits Settlements (1880-87). He made his mark in all of these offices, but especially in the development of the Malay Peninsula. While Governor of Singapore he was knighted in 1880, being created K.C.M.G., and was promoted to the Grand Cross of the same order by Queen Victoria in 1885. He was a devout Catholic all his life, and the Pope made him a Knight of the Order of St Pius IX.
Failing health forced Sir Frederick Weld to retire from political life finally in 1887 after a brilliant and honourable career. He settled down to spend his declining years as a country gentleman in Chideock Manor, which estate he had inherited from his elder brother.
In 1891 he visited the States Settlements once again on behalf of the Pahang Exploration and Development Co., of which he was a director. He was taken ill there and, after rallying sufficiently to return home, died at Chideock on 20 July aged 68.
He was survived by his wife, six sons and six daughters. Weld was devoted to his wife and children, and spent much time with them and members of his personal staff, who were usually relations. He was honourable and an able administrator, but lacked the common touch and did not make friends easily except amongst people of his own class. Though wedded to democratic principles he was inclined to be autocratic.
Weld Road and Upper Weld Road in Singapore and Weld Quay in Penang are named after him.
After his death his widow Mena Weld withdrew to a convent of which her daughter Edith Mary was prioress, and she died there on 9 April 1903.
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