31 Facts About Edward Sealy

The brothers emigrated to New Zealand and Edward Sealy was 19 when they arrived in 1859.

Edward Sealy's brother lost his house in the economic downturn that started in the late 1870s.

Edward Sealy explored in the Southern Alps, sometimes working alongside Julius von Haast.

Edward Sealy took his camera into the mountains and was the first to take photos in those areas.

Edward Sealy was a collector of butterflies, moths and birds' eggs and his entomology collection was considered one of the most notable private collections in the world.

Edward Sealy received a classical education at Clifton College in Bristol.

In 1862, Edward Sealy surveyed for the Canterbury Provincial Council in Ashburton and North Canterbury.

In 1874, the brothers won a tender for a survey contract further west and inland, with Edward Sealy working in the area near Burkes Pass.

Edward Sealy retired as a contract surveyor in 1876 and was afterwards farming, managing properties with his brother.

Edward Sealy's brother got into financial difficulties in the depression that started in the late 1870s; by January 1881 he had to sell his home 'Heathcliffe'.

Edward Sealy was a co-founder of the Farmers' Co-operative Association in Timaru and was the organisation's director.

The Sealy brothers caused a great scandal when Edward Richardson applied for land on behalf of his father, The Honourable Edward Richardson.

Richardson Jr was requesting land that Edward Sealy was interested in; Henry was present when the request was made.

Richardson Jr was told to come back the next morning when the land office opened again but by that time, Edward Sealy had purchased the land on the advice of his brother.

In 1866, Edward Sealy took his camera and other equipment to the upper Ashburton River and the Rangitata River, and the glaciers that feed these rivers.

In 1869, Edward Sealy helped von Haast with the exploration of the Tasman Glacier.

On this latter trip, Edward Sealy took his camera with him.

Edward Sealy's photos did not come out well and he decided to switch from dry to wet plate.

Edward Sealy took photos of Mount Darwin and Hochstetter Dome; this is the first time that these mountains were seen from the east side.

Edward Sealy exhibited landscape photos at the first art exhibition in Christchurch in early 1870.

Some of Edward Sealy's photos were exhibited as part of a map prepared by von Haast at the 1873 Vienna World's Fair, and Edward Sealy won a silver medal for some of his photos.

Edward Sealy was an avid collector of moths, butterflies and birds' eggs.

Edward Sealy cut his leg with a sickle during the time of the Richardson scandal in 1876 and spent a month in bed.

Edward Sealy died at his home, "Southerndown", on 30 October 1903 aged 64, and was buried at Timaru Cemetery.

Edward Sealy was survived by his wife, five daughters and one son.

Edward Sealy's wife died at 'Southerndown' on 4 January 1912 aged 56.

Edward Sealy was the son of the late Hon William Spence Peter, a member of the Legislative Council.

Edward Sealy's husband was the grandson of Dr Alfred Barker, the early Christchurch photographer noted above.

Edward Sealy owned a first edition of Walter Buller's book A History of the Birds of New Zealand and amended it with his own notes and drawings of bird eggs.

Edward Sealy Pass above the Godley Glacier commemorates Edward Sealy's 1869 exploration of the glaciers.

The Barker and Edward Sealy families donated the bell for the church, commemorating both Audrey Barker and Edward Sealy.