Charles Button first lived in Invercargill, then in Westland, and after a brief period in Christchurch, he settled in Auckland.
21 Facts About Charles Button
1.
2.
Charles Button was an MP for two periods, and when he was first elected to Parliament, he beat his colleague, friend, political opponent, and later Premier Richard Seddon; this was the only election defeat ever suffered by Seddon.
3.
Charles Button received his education at Hobart High School and was then trained as a solicitor at Douglas, Dawes and Miller in Launceston.
4.
Charles Button married Louisa Cowell, a daughter of Henry Cowell of Launceston, in 1862.
5.
Charles Button practised with Walter Reid, who later became New Zealand's first Solicitor-General.
6.
Charles Button moved to Christchurch in 1880 and had his office in Gloucester Street.
7.
Charles Button left Christchurch late in 1883 and moved to Auckland.
8.
Charles Button later had his own practice under the banner of Buddle, Button and Co.
9.
On 12 March 1907, Charles Button became a judge at the Supreme Court.
10.
Charles Button first stood for Parliament in the 1868 supplementary election, which was held in the newly established Westland South electorate.
11.
On nomination day Edmund Barff and Charles Button were nominated, and after a show of hands in favour of Charles Button, a poll was demanded.
12.
Charles Button contested the two-member Hokitika electorate in 1876 with Barff, Richard Seddon, Robert Reid and Conrad Hoos.
13.
Charles Button had known Seddon professionally, as they were both lawyers and often argued cases as opponents.
14.
Barff and Charles Button were returned, with Reid coming third and Seddon fourth.
15.
When Hokitika electorate constituents passed a resolution in 1878 that thanked Charles Button but expressed regret that he did not support Sir George Grey, Charles Button handed in his resignation.
16.
When Birkenhead Borough Council was formed in 1888, Charles Button was elected unopposed as the borough's first mayor on 9 May He remained the borough's mayor for 12 years until he resigned in January 1901; he was succeeded by Joseph Witheford.
17.
Charles Button was elected to the multi-member City of Auckland electorate in 1893, but was defeated in 1896.
18.
Charles Button was interested in science, especially in chemistry and electricity.
19.
Charles Button was active in the Presbyterian church and was an elder in Hokitika and at St Paul's in Christchurch.
20.
Charles Button died on 27 December 1920; his last residence was in Prospect Terrace in Mount Eden.
21.
Charles Button was survived by a daughter and a son.