James FitzGerald (New Zealand politician)

The Honourable James FitzGerald
James Edward Fitzgerald ca 1890
6th Minister of Native Affairs
In office 12 August 1865 – 16 October 1865
Member of the New Zealand Parliament for Lyttelton
In office 1853–1857
Member of the New Zealand Parliament for Ellesmere
In office 1862–1866
Member of the New Zealand Parliament for City of Christchurch
In office 1866–1867
1st Superintendent of Canterbury Province
In office 20 July 1853 – Oct 1857
Personal details
Born	James Edward FitzGerald 4 March 1818 Bath, England
Died	2 August 1896(1896-08-02) (aged 78) Wellington, New Zealand
Spouse	Frances (Fanny) Erskine Draper (married 1850)
Relations	Richard Fitzgerald (grandfather) Lucius O'Brien (grandfather) Gerard Fitzgerald (brother)
Signature

James Edward FitzGerald (4 March 1818 – 2 August 1896) was a New Zealand politician. According to some historians,^[1] he should be considered the country's first premier, although a more conventional view is that neither he nor his successor should properly be given that title. He was a notable campaigner for New Zealand self-governance. He was the first Superintendent of the Canterbury Province.