John Ballance

This article has multiple issues. Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page. (Learn how and when to remove these template messages) This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations. (January 2011) (Learn how and when to remove this message) This article's lead section may be too short to adequately summarize the key points. Please consider expanding the lead to provide an accessible overview of all important aspects of the article. (August 2018) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

The Right Honourable John Ballance
Ballance c. 1880
14th Premier of New Zealand
In office 24 January 1891 – 27 April 1893†
Monarch	Victoria
Governor	William Onslow David Boyle
Preceded by	Harry Atkinson
Succeeded by	Richard Seddon
1st Leader of the Opposition
In office 2 July 1889 – 23 January 1891
Deputy	Richard Seddon
Succeeded by	John Bryce
17th Minister of Lands
In office 3 September 1884 – 8 October 1887
Prime Minister	Robert Stout
Preceded by	Richmond Hursthouse
Succeeded by	George Richardson
5th Minister of Defence
In office 16 July 1884 – 8 October 1887
Prime Minister	Robert Stout
Preceded by	John Bryce
Succeeded by	Thomas Fergus
1st Minister of Education
In office 12 January 1878 – 1 July 1879
Prime Minister	George Grey
Succeeded by	William Rolleston
Member of the New Zealand Parliament for Wanganui
In office 22 July 1884 – 27 April 1893
Preceded by	William Hogg Watt
Succeeded by	Archibald Willis
In office 5 September 1879 – 9 December 1881
Preceded by	William Fox
Succeeded by	William Hogg Watt
Member of the New Zealand Parliament for Rangitikei
In office 24 April 1875 – 5 September 1879
Preceded by	William Fox
Succeeded by	William Willis
Personal details
Born	(1839-03-27)27 March 1839 Glenavy, Ulster, Ireland
Died	27 April 1893(1893-04-27) (aged 54) Wellington, New Zealand
Political party	Liberal
Spouse(s)	Fanny Taylor (m. 1863, d. 1868) Ellen Anderson (m. 1870)
Children	1 (adopted)
Parent(s)	Samuel Ballance Mary McNiece
Awards	New Zealand Medal
Signature
Military service
Allegiance	New Zealand Army
Years of service	1868–69
Rank	Cornet
Battles/wars	New Zealand Wars

John Ballance (27 March 1839 – 27 April 1893) was an Irish-born New Zealand politician who was the 14th premier of New Zealand, from January 1891 to April 1893, the founder of the Liberal Party (the country's first organised political party), and a Georgist.^[1] In 1890 he led his party to its first election victory, forming the first New Zealand government along party lines, but died in office three years later. Ballance supported votes for women. He also supported land reform, though at considerable cost to Māori.