10 Facts About Willoughby Shortland

Commander Willoughby Shortland was a British naval officer and colonial administrator.

Willoughby Shortland was New Zealand's first Colonial Secretary from 1841, after having arrived in New Zealand with Lieutenant Governor William Hobson in January 1840.

Willoughby Shortland was later President of the island of Nevis and then Governor of Tobago.

Willoughby Shortland's brothers were Edward Shortland and Peter Frederick Shortland.

Willoughby Shortland was educated at the Royal Naval College, and entered the service on 9 January 1818.

Willoughby Shortland was in the act of a magisterial examination of the charge against Kihi on 20 April 1840 when Haratua, a chief arrived with about three hundred armed warriors and began a haka.

Willoughby Shortland, believing the warriors had hostile intentions, sent for the troops.

Willoughby Shortland proceeded to Port Nicholson, Wellington, and the English living there very willingly acknowledged Queen Victoria's authority and Willoughby Shortland's nomination as their police magistrate.

Willoughby Shortland was appointed the first colonial secretary on 3 May 1841 and a member of the General Legislative Council courtesy of his post.

Willoughby Shortland married, in 1841 in Auckland, Isabella Kate Johnston, daughter of Robert A Fitzgerald of Geraldine, County Limerick.