Anthony A. Williams
American politician
George Grey
British soldier, explorer, colonial administrator and writer (1812-1898)
Sir George Grey, KCBwas a British soldier, explorer, colonial administrator and writer. He served in a succession of governing positions: Governor of South Australia, twice Governor of New Zealand, Governor of Cape Colony, and the 11th premier of New Zealand.
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About the George Grey
Sir George Grey, KCBwas a British soldier, explorer, colonial administrator and writer. He served in a succession of governing positions: Governor of South Australia, twice Governor of New Zealand, Governor of Cape Colony, and the 11th premier of New Zealand. He played a key role in the colonisation of New Zealand, and both the purchase and annexation of Maori land.
Grey was born in Lisbon, Portugal, just a few days after his father, Lieutenant-Colonel George Grey, was killed at the Battle of Badajoz in Spain. He was educated in England. After military serviceand two explorations in Western Australiaposed a significant challenge to the British push for sovereignty, and with his Ngapuhi absent from the movement, Grey found himself challenged on two sides. He struggled to reuse his skills in negotiation to maintain peace with Maori, and his relationship with Te Wherowhero’s successor Tawhiao deeply soured. Turning on his former allies, Grey began an aggressive crackdown on Tainui and launched the Invasion of the Waikato in 1863, with 14,000 Imperial and colonial troops attacking 4,000 Maori and their families. Appointed in 1877, he served as Premier of New Zealand until 1879, where he remained a symbol of colonialism.
By political philosophy a Gladstonian liberal and Georgist, Grey eschewed the class system to be part of Auckland’s new governance he helped to establish. Cyril Hamshere argues that Grey was a “great British proconsul”, although he was also temperamental, demanding of associates, and lacking in some managerial abilities. For the wars of territorial expansion against Maori which he started, he remains a controversial and divisive figure in New Zealand.
12 Quotes by George Grey
- 1.
To sleep after sunrise was impossible on account of the number of flies which kept buzzing about the face.
George GreyBritish soldier, explorer, colonial administrator and writer (1812-1898)
- 2.
Spanish alone was understood or spoken here; our friend, the countryman, stuck to us most nobly, he understood us not a bit better than the rest but saw that we were in distress and would not desert us.
George GreyBritish soldier, explorer, colonial administrator and writer (1812-1898)
- 3.
In front of us lay a smooth sandy beach, beyond which rose gradually a high wooded country, and behind us was the sea, studded with numerous islands of every variety of form.
George GreyBritish soldier, explorer, colonial administrator and writer (1812-1898)
- 4.
On embarking to return we could perceive no sign of One Tree Island; and as we swept down towards the sea the leafy top of a tree seen in the clear water under the boat was the only evidence of its existence; though a few hours ago it had formed so prominent an object.
George GreyBritish soldier, explorer, colonial administrator and writer (1812-1898)
- 5.
I mention this fact as tending to support what I have often heard stated, namely, that a shark’s sense of smell is so keen that, if men ever bathe in seas where they are found, a shark is almost sure to appear directly afterwards.
George GreyBritish soldier, explorer, colonial administrator and writer (1812-1898)
- 6.
Sunrise offered a very beautiful spectacle; the water was quite unruffled, but the motion communicated by the tides was so great that, although there was not a breath of air stirring, the sea heaved slowly with a grand and majestic motion.
George GreyBritish soldier, explorer, colonial administrator and writer (1812-1898)
- 7.
At several such places we landed, but always found the ascent to the interior so covered with large loose rocks that it would have been impossible to have disembarked stores or stock on any.
George GreyBritish soldier, explorer, colonial administrator and writer (1812-1898)
- 8.
Part of my plan was not only to introduce all useful animals that I possibly could into this part of Australia, but also the most valuable plants of every description.
George GreyBritish soldier, explorer, colonial administrator and writer (1812-1898)
- 9.
This part of Brazil offered the curious spectacle of a great evil, which has been long suffered to exist and is now advancing, gradually yet surely, to that state which must entail inevitable destruction on the existing Government of the country.
George GreyBritish soldier, explorer, colonial administrator and writer (1812-1898)
- 10.
I remarked constantly, just at sunset, in these latitudes, that the eastern horizon was brilliantly illuminated with a kind of mock sunset. This in a short time disappeared, to be soon succeeded by another similar in character, but more faint.
George GreyBritish soldier, explorer, colonial administrator and writer (1812-1898)
- 11.
All the principal people in the town are concerned in the slave trade, and their chief wealth consists in the number of slaves they possess; therefore there is little chance of the trade being, for many years, totally abolished.
George GreyBritish soldier, explorer, colonial administrator and writer (1812-1898)
- 12.
The Slave Trade, though nominally abolished, is actively pursued here, eighty-three slaves having been landed just before my arrival, and another cargo during my stay.
George GreyBritish soldier, explorer, colonial administrator and writer (1812-1898)