View source for Richard Seddon

{{Short description|Prime minister of New Zealand from 1893 to 1906}}
{{For|the English cricketer|Richard Seddon (cricketer)}}
{{Use British English|date=November 2011}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2020}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific-prefix    = [[The Right Honourable]]
| name                = Richard John Seddon
| honorific-suffix    = 
| image               = Richard Seddon portrait 1905.jpg
| caption             = Seddon in 1905
| order               = 15th [[Prime Minister of New Zealand]]{{#tag:ref|The title "Prime Minister" was used by Richard Seddon from 1900.<ref name="title">{{cite encyclopedia|url=http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/1966/prime-ministers-of-new-zealand/page-2|title=Prime Minister: The Title "Premier"|encyclopedia=[[An Encyclopaedia of New Zealand]]|date=1966|access-date=5 January 2015|last1=Hare |first1=Mclintock }}</ref>|group=*|name=Note}}
| monarch             = [[Queen Victoria|Victoria]]<br />[[Edward VII]]
| governor            = [[David Boyle, 7th Earl of Glasgow|David Boyle]]<br />[[Uchter Knox, 5th Earl of Ranfurly|Uchter Knox]]<br />[[William Plunket, 5th Baron Plunket|William Plunket]]
| term_start          = 27 April 1893
| term_end            = 10 June 1906
| predecessor         = [[John Ballance]]
| successor           = [[William Hall-Jones]]
| order1              = 8th [[Minister of Defence (New Zealand)|Minister of Defence]]
| term_start1         = 23 January 1900
| term_end1           = 10 June 1906
| primeminister1      = Himself
| predecessor1        = [[Thomas Thompson (New Zealand politician)|Thomas Thompson]]
| successor1          = [[Albert Pitt]]
| term_start2         = 24 January 1891
| term_end2           = 22 June 1896
| primeminister2      = [[John Ballance]]
| predecessor2        = [[William Russell (New Zealand politician)|William Russell]]
| successor2          = [[Thomas Thompson (New Zealand politician)|Thomas Thompson]]
| order3              = 11th [[Minister of Works (New Zealand)|Minister of Public Works]]
| term_start3         = 24 January 1891
| term_end3           = 2 March 1896
| primeminister3      = [[John Ballance]]
| predecessor3        = [[Thomas Fergus]]
| successor3          = [[William Hall-Jones]]
| order4              = 7th [[Minister of Mines (New Zealand)|Minister of Mines]]
| term_start4         = 24 January 1891
| term_end4           = 6 September 1893
| primeminister4      = [[John Ballance]]
| predecessor4        = [[Thomas Fergus]]
| successor4          = [[Alfred Cadman]]
| constituency_MP6    = [[Westland (New Zealand electorate)|Westland]]
| parliament6         = New Zealand
| term_start6         = 5 December 1890
| term_end6           = 10 June 1906
| predecessor6        = ''Electorate created''
| successor6          = [[Tom Seddon]]
| constituency_MP7    = [[Kumara (New Zealand electorate)|Kumara]]
| parliament7         = New Zealand
| term_start7         = 9 December 1881
| term_end7           = 5 December 1890
| predecessor7        = ''Electorate created''
| successor7          = ''Electorate abolished''
| constituency_MP8    = [[Hokitika (New Zealand electorate)|Hokitika]]
| parliament8         = New Zealand
| term_start8         = 5 September 1879
| term_end8           = 9 December 1881
| predecessor8        = ''Multi-member electorate''
| successor8          = [[Gerard George Fitzgerald]]
| birth_date          = {{birth date|1845|6|22|df=y}}
| birth_place         = [[Eccleston, St Helens|Eccleston]], Lancashire, England
| death_date          = {{death date and age|1906|6|10|1845|6|22|df=y}}<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article137921249 |title=RICHARD SEDDON. |work=[[Wellington Times]] |issue=1784 |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=11 June 1906 |access-date=2 April 2017 |page=2 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref>
| death_place         = Tasman Sea
| resting_place       = [[Bolton Street Memorial Park]]
| spouse              = [[Louisa Seddon|Louisa Spotswood]] (m. 1869)
| children            = 11, including [[Tom Seddon]] and [[Elizabeth Gilmer]]
| parents             = 
| party               = [[Independent politician|Independent]] (1879–91)<br/>[[New Zealand Liberal Party|Liberal]] (1891–1906)
| signature           = Richard Seddon Signature-01.svg
| footnotes           = {{reflist|group=*}}
}}
{{Richard Seddon sidebar}}
'''Richard John Seddon''' {{postnominals|country=NZL|size=100%|PC}} (22 June 1845 – 10 June 1906) was a New Zealand politician who served as the 15th [[Prime Minister of New Zealand|premier (prime minister) of New Zealand]] from 1893 until his death. In office for thirteen years, he is to date New Zealand's [[List of Prime Ministers of New Zealand by time in office|longest-serving head of government]].

Seddon was born in [[Eccleston, St Helens|Eccleston]], Lancashire, England. He arrived in New Zealand in 1866.{{sfn|Hamer|2014|p=1}} His prominence in local politics gained him a seat in the [[New Zealand House of Representatives|House of Representatives]] in 1879. Seddon became a key member of the [[New Zealand Liberal Party|Liberal Party]] under the leadership of [[John Ballance]]. When the [[Liberal Government of New Zealand|Liberal Government]] came to power in 1891 Seddon was appointed to several portfolios, including [[Minister of Works (New Zealand)|Minister of Public Works]]. Seddon succeeded to the leadership of the Liberal Party following Ballance's death in 1893, inheriting a bill for [[women's suffrage in New Zealand|women's suffrage]], which was passed the same year despite Seddon's opposition to it. Seddon's government achieved many social and economic changes, such as the introduction of [[old age pension]]s. His personal popularity, charisma and strength overcame dissent from within his cabinet.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Robert Stout {{!}} NZHistory, New Zealand history online|url=https://nzhistory.govt.nz/people/sir-robert-stout|access-date=2021-12-27|website=nzhistory.govt.nz}}</ref> This has been described as firmly establishing "Seddonism", a colloquial term for Seddon's strand of [[National conservatism|nationalist conservatism]], as New Zealand's dominant political ideology.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|last=David|first=Hamer|title=The New Zealand Liberals: The Years of Power, 1891–1912|publisher=[[Auckland University Press]]|year=1988|isbn=1-86940-0143|location=[[Auckland]], [[New Zealand]]|pages=224–233|language=English}}</ref> His government also purchased vast amounts of land from the [[Māori people|Māori]], aided by his allies [[Alfred Cadman]] and [[James Carroll (New Zealand politician)|James Carroll]] as the [[Minister for Māori Development|Ministers of Native Affairs]]. He spent the [[1899 New Zealand general election|1899 general election]] trying to relieve New Zealand's parliament of the independent politicians who had so greatly dominated the country's organised national politics since its provenance, in which he triumphed greatly.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|last=David|first=Hamer|title=The New Zealand Liberals: The Years of Power, 1891–1912|publisher=[[Auckland University Press]]|year=1988|isbn=1-86940-0143|location=[[Auckland]], [[New Zealand]]|pages=224–233|language=English}}</ref> An [[imperialist]] in foreign policy, his attempt to incorporate [[Fiji]] into New Zealand failed, but he successfully annexed the [[Cook Islands]] in 1901. Seddon's government supported Britain with troops in the [[Second Boer War]] (1899–1902) and supported preferential trade between British colonies.

Seddon was regarded as deeply regionalist; the late Professor of History at [[Victoria University of Wellington]], [[D. A. Hamer|D.A. Hamer]], described him as "an intensely parochial politician... a great fighter for the interests of [[West Coast, New Zealand|West Coasters]] but with no interest in or knowledge about wider New Zealand problems".<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|last=David|first=Hamer|title=The New Zealand Liberals: The Years of Power, 1891–1912|publisher=[[Auckland University Press]]|year=1988|isbn=1-86940-0143|location=[[Auckland]], [[New Zealand]]|pages=224–233|language=English}}</ref> His heritage from the region defined him not only as a politician, but as a man; he became well known for the "uncouth" stereotypes of the generally West Coast [[Pākehā]] population of the time, expressed in his lack of education, boisterous and aggressive persona, and his dialectal tendency to drop his [[H|aitches]]. Seddon continued to live on the West Coast of the South Island throughout his premiership, only coming to [[Wellington]] on a regular basis very reluctantly, from the late 1890s. Seddon was also described as a man of secret brooding, who secretly battled anxiety and depression beneath his public surface of [[rodomontade]] and bravado; he hid his personal struggles to ensure his enemies would not feel pleasure knowing they had hurt him.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|last=David|first=Hamer|title=The New Zealand Liberals: The Years of Power, 1891–1912|publisher=[[Auckland University Press]]|year=1988|isbn=1-86940-0143|location=[[Auckland]], [[New Zealand]]|pages=224–233|language=English}}</ref>

Despite his personal insecurities, dominating and almost illiberal viewpoints, and erratic nature, he inspired serious and long-lasting loyalty among his cabinet members. Leading the Liberal Party until his death, the party afterwards struggled to recover, going through a string of leaders before essentially giving way to New Zealand's modern two-party system of what would become the [[New Zealand Labour Party|Labour]] and [[New Zealand National Party|National]] Parties.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|last=David|first=Hamer|title=The New Zealand Liberals: The Years of Power, 1891–1912|publisher=[[Auckland University Press]]|year=1988|isbn=1-86940-0143|location=[[Auckland]], [[New Zealand]]|pages=224–233|language=English}}</ref> Ironically, this was something Seddon had been instrumental in creating, through his successful attempt at suppressing New Zealand's previously dominant political cohort of [[Independent politician|independents]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|last=David|first=Hamer|title=The New Zealand Liberals: The Years of Power, 1891–1912|publisher=[[Auckland University Press]]|year=1988|isbn=1-86940-0143|location=[[Auckland]], [[New Zealand]]|pages=224–233|language=English}}</ref> Despite being derisively known as "'''King Dick'''" for his autocratic style,{{sfn|Hamer|2014|p=1}} and criticised for his actions on Māori land deprivation and his views on [[Racism|race]] (especially towards [[Chinese New Zealanders|Chinese]]), he has nonetheless been named as one of the greatest, most influential, and most widely known politicians in New Zealand history.

==Early life and family==
Seddon was born in the town of [[Eccleston, St Helens|Eccleston]], near [[St Helens, Merseyside|St Helens in Lancashire, England]], on 22 June 1845.{{sfn|Brooking|2014|p=11}} His father Thomas Seddon (born 1817) was a school headmaster, and his mother Jane Lindsay was a teacher; they married on 8 February 1842 at Christ Church, Eccleston. Richard was the third of their eight children.

Despite this background, Seddon did not perform well at school, and was described as unruly. Despite his parents' attempt to give him a [[classics|classical]] education, Seddon developed an interest in engineering, but was removed from school at age 12. After working on his grandfather Richard's farm at [[Barrow Nook]] Hall for two years,{{sfn|Brooking|2014|p=17}} Seddon was an apprentice at [[Robert Daglish|Daglish's]] [[Foundry]] in [[Sutton, Merseyside|Sutton]]. He later worked at [[George Forrester and Company|Vauxhall foundry]] in [[Liverpool]],{{sfn|Hamer|2014|p=1}} where he attained a Board of Trade Certificate as a mechanical engineer.{{sfn|Brooking|2014|p=51}} During his time in Lancashire, he was heavily influenced by [[social liberalism]], and many of its ideas would form part of his political philosophy as a politician.{{sfn|Brooking|2014|pp=22–25}}

On 15 June 1862, at the age of 16, Seddon decided to emigrate to [[Australia]], working his passage to Melbourne on the [[SS Great Britain|SS ''Great Britain'']].{{sfn|Brooking|2014|p=13}} He later provided his reasoning: "A restlessness to get away to see new, broad lands seized me: My work was irksome. I felt cramped."{{sfn|Brooking|2014|p=54}} He entered the railway workshops at [[Williamstown, Victoria|Williamstown]], and also worked in the goldfields at [[Bendigo]]; he did not meet with any great success. In either 1865 or 1866, he became engaged to Louisa Jane Spotswood, but her family would not permit marriage until Seddon was financially secure.

Seddon moved to New Zealand's [[West Coast, New Zealand|West Coast]] in 1866. Initially, he worked the goldfields in [[Waimea, New Zealand|Waimea]]. He is believed to have prospered here, and he returned briefly to Melbourne to marry Louisa. He established a store, and then expanded his business to include the sale of alcohol, becoming a [[Public house|publican]]. He was followed to the West Coast by his older sister Phoebe, younger brothers Edward and Jim and younger sister Mary.{{sfn|Brooking|2014|p=2}} Phoebe married William Cunliffe on 9 May 1863 at Holy Trinity Church Eccleston. Their son Bill was Labour MP [[David Cunliffe]]'s grandfather, making Richard Seddon David Cunliffe's great-great-uncle.<ref>{{cite news |url= http://www.greystar.co.nz/content/cunliffe%E2%80%99s-great-uncle-dick|title=Cunliffe's great-uncle Dick|work=Grey Star|access-date=14 January 2015}}</ref>

==Local politics==
Seddon first entered politics in 1870, when he ran unsuccessfully for the [[Westland County Council]], finishing third. The same year, he was elected to the Arahura Road Board. He ran again for the County Council in 1872, finishing a distant third.{{sfn|Brooking|2014|p=39}}

In 1874 Seddon stood for the newly created [[Westland Provincial Council]] and was elected for Arahura. He established himself as a broadly effective, if rather bellicose, advocate for miners' interests. He also took an interest in education during this time.{{sfn|Brooking|2014|p=42–44}} He lost this position with the [[Provinces of New Zealand|abolition of the provinces]] in 1876, and was elected instead to the newly reconstituted county council.{{sfn|Brooking|2014|p=48}}{{sfn|Wolfe|2005|p=100}} In 1876 he stood for Parliament in the two-member [[Hokitika (New Zealand electorate)|Hokitika electorate]] and placed fourth out of five candidates.{{sfn|Brooking|2014|p=44–45}}<ref>{{cite news | title=Declaration of the Poll | url=http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=WCT18760119.2.7 | access-date=20 February 2015 | work=West Coast Times | issue=3219 | date=19 January 1876 | page=2}}</ref>

[[Kumara, New Zealand|Kumara]] became a prominent goldmining town. Seddon was elected its first Mayor in 1877. He had staked a claim in Kumara the previous year, and had shortly afterwards moved his business there. Despite occasional financial troubles (he filed for bankruptcy in 1878{{sfn|Burdon|1955|p=40}}), his political career prospered.

==Entry to Parliament==
In the [[1879 New Zealand general election|1879 election]], he stood for Parliament again, and was elected. He represented Hokitika to 1881, then [[Kumara (New Zealand electorate)|Kumara]] from 1881 to 1890, then [[Westland (New Zealand electorate)|Westland]] from 1890 to his death in 1906. His son [[Tom Seddon]] succeeded him as MP for Westland.

In Parliament, Seddon aligned himself with [[George Grey]], a former [[Governor-General of New Zealand|Governor]] turned Premier. Seddon later claimed to be particularly close to Grey, although some historians believe that this was an invention for political purposes. Initially, Seddon was derided by many members of Parliament, who mocked his "provincial" accent (which tended to drop the letter "h") and his lack of formal education. He nevertheless proved quite effective in Parliament, being particularly good at "stonewalling" certain legislation. His political focus was on issues of concern to his West Coast constituents. He specialised on mining issues, became a recognised authority on the topic, and chaired the goldfields committee in 1887 and 1888.{{sfn|Hamer|2006|p=}}

He aggressively proclaimed a populist anti-elitist philosophy in many speeches and toast. "It is the rich and the poor; it is the wealthy people and the landowners against the middle classes and the labouring classes," he explained.<ref>{{cite book|author=New Zealand House of Representatives|title=Parliamentary Debates|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9roDAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA171|year=1884|page=171|author-link=New Zealand House of Representatives}}</ref>
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[[File:Richard Seddon in 1882.jpg|thumb|right|Portrait of Richard Seddon in 1882, from a portrait of the [[8th New Zealand Parliament]]]]

==Liberal Party==
{{main|New Zealand Liberal Party}}
Seddon joined the nascent [[New Zealand Liberal Party|Liberal Party]], led by [[John Ballance]], following the [[1890 New Zealand general election|December 1890]] general election. Their platform was for reform in the areas of land and labour.{{sfn|Wolfe|2005|p=89}} They were greatly helped by the abolition of [[plural voting]], which allowed landowners in each district they owned land in to vote in them.{{sfn|Wolfe|2005|p=89}}

Seddon was sworn into his first [[Ministers of the New Zealand Government|ministerial]] positions when the Liberals came to power in January 1891.{{sfn|Hamer|2014|p=1}} He became minister of public works, mines, defence, and marine. He promoted co-operative contract system for road-making and other public works projects.

Unlike Ballance who believed in [[classical liberalism]], Seddon did not have any great commitment to any [[political ideology|ideology]]. Rather, he saw the Liberals as champions of "the common man" against large commercial interests and major landowners.{{sfn|Nagel|1993}} His strong advocacy for what he saw as the interests of ordinary New Zealanders won him considerable popularity. Attacks by the opposition, which generally focused on his lack of education and sophistication (one opponent said that he was only "partially civilised") reinforced his growing reputation as an enemy of elitism.{{sfn|Nagel|1993}}

Seddon quickly became popular across the country. Some of his colleagues, however, were not as happy, accusing him of putting [[populism]] ahead of principle, and of being an [[anti-intellectualism|anti-intellectual]]. John Ballance, now Premier, had a deep commitment to liberal causes such as [[women's suffrage]] and [[Māori people|Māori]] rights, which Seddon was not always as enthusiastic about. Nevertheless, many people in the Liberal Party believed that Seddon's popularity was a huge asset for the party, and Seddon developed a substantial following.

==Premiership==
[[Image:Richard John Seddon in Samoa 1897.jpg|thumb|Richard John Seddon and party in Samoa, 1897]]
[[File:Mahuta Tawhiao with Seddon, 1898.jpg|thumb|[[James Carroll (New Zealand politician)|James Carroll]] (second row, far right). Front row from left: Richard Seddon, [[Mahuta Tāwhiao]], Māori King. Second row from left: [[Tupu Atanatiu Taingakawa Te Waharoa|Tupu Taingakawa Te Waharoa]], Māori Kingmaker; [[Henare Kaihau]], MP. Taken at [[Huntly, New Zealand]] in 1898]]
{{see also|Liberal Government of New Zealand}}
Ballance fell seriously ill in 1892 and made Seddon acting leader of the House. After Ballance's death in April 1893, the Governor [[David Boyle, 7th Earl of Glasgow]] asked Seddon, as the acting leader of the house, to form a new ministry. Despite the refusal of [[William Pember Reeves]] and [[Thomas Mackenzie]] to accept his leadership, Seddon managed to secure the backing of his Liberal Party colleagues as interim leader, with an understanding being reached that a full vote would occur when Parliament resumed sitting.<ref name="nzhistory">{{cite web|author=Gavin McLean|url=http://www.nzhistory.govt.nz/people/richard-seddon|title=Richard Seddon – Biography|publisher=[[Ministry for Culture and Heritage]]|website=nzhistory.govt.nz|access-date=5 February 2015|date=21 August 2014}}</ref> Seddon's most prominent challenger was [[Robert Stout]], a former Premier for two separate terms. Like Ballance, Stout had a strong belief in classical-liberal principles. Ballance himself had preferred Stout as his successor,<ref>{{cite web |title=Robert Stout |url=https://nzhistory.govt.nz/people/sir-robert-stout |website=nzhistory.govt.nz |publisher=Ministry for Culture and Heritage |access-date=12 June 2019}}</ref> but had died before being able to secure this aim. Stout was not a member of the House of Representatives at the time of Ballance's death, and only re-entered following the [[1893 Inangahua by-election|by-election in Inangahua]] on 8 June 1893.

Despite Seddon's promise, however, there was no vote on the party leadership and therefore the premiership. By convincing his party colleagues that a leadership contest would split the party in two, or at least leave deep divisions, Seddon managed to secure a permanent hold on the leadership.<ref name="nzhistory"/> Stout continued to be one of his strongest critics and led the campaign for women's suffrage despite Seddon's opposition. Eventually Stout left the Liberal Party in 1896 and remained in the house as an independent until 1898. In 1899, however, Seddon recommended Stout to the Governor as the next [[Chief Justice of New Zealand]].

===Women's suffrage===
{{main|Women's suffrage in New Zealand}}
John Ballance, founder of the Liberal Party, had been a strong supporter of voting rights for women, declaring his belief in the "absolute equality of the sexes".<ref>{{cite encyclopedia|url=http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/biographies/2b5/ballance-john|title=Story: Ballance, John|encyclopedia=[[Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand]]|date=4 June 2013|access-date=7 January 2015}}</ref> At the time women's suffrage was closely linked to the [[Temperance movement in New Zealand|temperance movement]], which sought prohibition of alcohol. As a former publican and self-styled "Champion of the Common Man" Seddon initially opposed women's suffrage. In July 1893, two months after Seddon became Premier, the second of two major [[1893 Women's Suffrage Petition|petitions for women's suffrage]] was presented to the House.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://nzhistory.govt.nz/politics/womens-suffrage/about-the-petition|title=Women and the vote Page 7 – About the suffrage petition|publisher=Ministry for Culture and Heritage|date=15 May 2019|access-date=13 June 2019}}</ref>

This resulted in considerable debate within the Liberal Party. [[John Hall (New Zealand politician)|John Hall]], a former conservative premier, moved a Bill to enact women's suffrage. Seddon's opponents within the party, led by Stout (also an advocate of temperance), managed to gather enough support for the Bill to be passed despite Seddon's opposition. When Seddon realised that the passage of the bill was inevitable, he changed his position, claiming to accept the people's will. In actuality, however, he took strong measures to ensure that the [[New Zealand Legislative Council|Legislative Council]] would vote down the Bill, as it had done previously. Seddon's tactics in lobbying the council were seen by many as underhand, and two Councillors, despite opposing suffrage, voted in favour of the bill in protest. The Bill was granted [[Royal Assent]] in September.

Nonetheless, at the [[1893 New Zealand general election|1893 general election]] in November, Seddon's Liberal Party managed to increase its majority.

===Alcohol licensing===
{{main|Alcohol in New Zealand}}
The debate on women's suffrage exposed deep divisions within the Liberal Party between more doctrinaire liberals, broadly led by Stout, and "popular" liberals, led by Seddon. This division was again highlighted by the debate over alcohol licensing. Seddon moved the radical Alcoholic Liquors Sale Control Bill in 1893<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/1966/prohibition/page-4|title=PROHIBITION – The Act of 1893|publisher=[[An Encyclopaedia of New Zealand]]|date=1966|access-date=8 January 2015|last1=Hare |first1=Mclintock }}</ref> to introduce licensing districts where a majority could vote for continuance (continued liquor licensing in that district) or reduction of licences or no liquor licences at all. Votes were to be taken every three years at general elections and licensing districts were matched to electoral districts.
{{see also|New Zealand alcohol licensing referendums 1894–1987}}

===Old-age pensions===
One of the policies for which Seddon is most remembered is his Old-age Pensions Act of 1898, which established the basis of the [[welfare state]] later expanded by [[Michael Joseph Savage]] and the [[New Zealand Labour Party|Labour Party]]. Seddon put considerable weight behind the scheme, despite considerable opposition from many quarters. Its successful passage is often seen as a testament to Seddon's political power and influence.{{citation needed|date=September 2020}}

===Foreign policy===
In the sphere of foreign policy, Seddon was a notable supporter of the [[British Empire]]. After he attended the [[First Colonial Conference|Colonial Conference in London in 1897]], he became known "as one of the pillars of British imperialism", and he was a strong supporter of the [[Second Boer War]] and sponsored preferential tariffs for trade with Britain. He is also noted for his support of New Zealand's own "imperial" designs – Seddon believed that New Zealand should play a major role in the [[Pacific Islands]] as a "Britain of the South". Seddon's plans focused mainly on establishing New Zealand dominion over [[Fiji]] and [[Samoa]]. However, his expansionist policies were discouraged by the [[British Government|Imperial Government]]. Only the [[Cook Islands]] came under New Zealand's control during his term in office.<ref name="ENZ 1966"/>

===Immigration===
{{Main|New Zealand head tax}}
Seddon was firmly opposed [[Chinese people|Chinese]] immigration to New Zealand, harbouring an ethnic prejudice against them stemming from his years in the goldfields.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Richard Seddon {{!}} NZHistory, New Zealand history online|url=https://nzhistory.govt.nz/people/richard-seddon|access-date=2021-12-25|website=nzhistory.govt.nz}}</ref>

Although Chinese immigrants were invited to New Zealand by the Dunedin Chamber of Commerce, prejudice against them quickly led to calls for restrictions on immigration. Following the example of anti-Chinese poll taxes enacted by California in 1852 and by Australian states in the 1850s, 1860s and 1870s, [[John Hall (New Zealand)|John Hall]]'s government passed the Chinese Immigration Act 1881. This imposed a £10 tax per Chinese person entering New Zealand, and permitted only one Chinese immigrant for every 10 tons of cargo. Richard Seddon's government increased the tax to £100 per head in 1896 ($20,990 in modern [[New Zealand dollar]]s), and tightened the other restriction to only one Chinese immigrant for every 200 tons of cargo.

Seddon compared Chinese people to monkeys, and so used the [[Yellow Peril]] conspiracy theory to promote [[Racialism|racialist]] politics in New Zealand. In 1879, in his first political speech, Seddon said that New Zealand did not wish her shores "deluged with Asiatic Tartars. I would sooner address white men than these Chinese. You can't talk to them, you can't reason with them. All you can get from them is 'No savvy'."<ref name=":1">Burdon, Randal Mathews. ''King Dick: A Biography of Richard John Seddon'', Whitcombe & Tombs, 1955, p.43.</ref>

===Style of government===
[[File:Richard John Seddon addressing a Liberal rally at Greytown, late 1890s.jpg|thumb|left|Seddon (far right) addressing a Liberal rally in [[Greytown, New Zealand|Greytown]], late 1890s]]
[[File:Richard John Seddon, Vanity Fair, 1902-04-17.jpg|right|thumb|Seddon caricatured by How for [[Vanity Fair (British magazine)|''Vanity Fair'']], 1902]]
Seddon was a strong premier, and enforced his authority with great vigour. At one point, he even commented that "A president is all we require", and that [[New Zealand Cabinet|Cabinet]] could be abolished. His opponents, both within the Liberal Party and in opposition, accused him of being an autocrat – the label "King Dick" was first applied to him at this point.

Seddon accumulated a large number of portfolios for himself, including that of [[Minister of Finance (New Zealand)|Minister of Finance]] (from which he displaced [[Joseph Ward]]), [[Minister of Labour (New Zealand)|Minister of Labour]] (from which he displaced [[William Pember Reeves]]), [[Minister of Education (New Zealand)|Minister of Education]], [[Minister of Defence (New Zealand)|Minister of Defence]], [[Minister of Māori Affairs|Minister of Native Affairs]], and [[Minister of Immigration (New Zealand)|Minister of Immigration]].

Seddon was also accused of [[cronyism]] – his friends and allies, particularly those from the West Coast, were given various political positions, while his enemies within the Liberal Party were frequently denied important office. Many of Seddon's appointees were not qualified for the positions that they received – Seddon valued loyalty above ability. One account, possibly apocryphal, claims that he installed an ally as a senior civil servant despite the man being illiterate. He was also accused of [[nepotism]] – in 1905, it was claimed that one of his sons had received an unauthorised payment, but this claim was proved false.{{citation needed|date=September 2020}}

Sir [[Carl Berendsen]] recalled seeing Seddon in 1906 as a Department of Education junior innocently bearing what was an unwelcome document. A replacement was needed for a small native school. The inspectors had picked out three outstanding candidates, but Seddon picked out the last on the lengthy list; he had no academic qualifications and had just been released from gaol for embezzlement. When the Premier appointed the gentlemen from gaol, Departmental officials returned the papers and called attention to his criminal record. Berendsen cowered in the corner while with a snarl Seddon grasped his pen and wrote once more in very large letters, "Appoint Mr X". Berendsen noted though that when an Editor was required for the new School Journal, Departmental officials had agreed on the best man, but the Massey Government (which had replaced the Liberal Government) was "quite shameless in devotion to the principle of the loaves and fishes... and the Minister of the day appointed the third choice".{{sfn|Berendsen|2009|pp=50, 56}}

As Minister of Native Affairs, Seddon took a generally "sympathetic" but "[[paternalism|paternalistic]]" approach. As Minister of Immigration, he was well known for his hostility to Chinese immigration – the so-called "[[Yellow Peril]]" was an important part of his populist rhetoric, and he compared Chinese people to monkeys. In his first political speech in 1879 he had declared New Zealand did not wish her shores to be "deluged with Asiatic Tartars. I would sooner address white men than these Chinese. You can't talk to them, you can't reason with them. All you can get from them is 'No savvy'."{{citation needed|date=September 2020}}

Successive governments had also shown a lack of firmness in dealing with Māori, he said: "The colony, instead of importing [[Gatling gun]]s with which to fight Maori, should wage war with locomotives"... pushing through roads and railways and compulsorily purchasing "the land on both sides".{{sfn|Scott|1975|loc=chpt. 10<!-- the loc parameter should really be replace with a page range, e.g. "pp=72–86" -->}}

==Religion and freemasonry==
[[File:Richardseddongrave.JPG|thumb|right|Richard Seddon's grave in [[Bolton Street Memorial Park]], [[Wellington]]]]
Seddon was an [[Anglican]].<ref>{{Cite encyclopedia|last=Stenhouse|first=John|title=Religion and politics|url=https://teara.govt.nz/en/religion-and-society/page-5|access-date=2021-09-27|encyclopedia=[[Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand]] |language=en-NZ|date=4 April 2018}}</ref>

Seddon became a [[Freemason]] in 1868 when he was initiated into Pacific Lodge No 1229 (under the [[United Grand Lodge of England]]) in Hokitika.<ref name="ENZ 1966">{{cite book |last=Burdon |first=Randal Mathews |author-link=Randal Mathews Burdon |editor-last=McLintock |editor-first=A.H. |title=An Encyclopaedia of New Zealand | chapter=Seddon, Richard John |chapter-url=http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/1966/seddon-richard-john |access-date=21 February 2015 |year=1966 }}</ref><ref name=Pugh>{{cite web |url = http://www.mastermason.com/railcraft/RandFM.htm |title = Rail and Freemasonry in New Zealand |author= R.E.Pugh-Williams |publisher = Railway Craftsmen's Association of New Zealand |access-date = 27 September 2019 }}</ref> The lodge is still extant, but has since relocated to Christchurch.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://sifreemasons.org.nz/?page_id=86 |title = Christchurch – Pacific Lodge of Hokitika 1229 |publisher = District Grand Lodge of the South Island |access-date = 27 September 2019 }}</ref> In 1898, while premier, he was elected [[Grand Master (Masonic)|Grand Master]] of New Zealand,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/31274/richard-seddon-grand-master |title=Richard Seddon, Grand Master |date=16 November 2012 |website=[[Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand]] |publisher=Ministry for Culture and Heritage |access-date=21 February 2015}}</ref><ref name=Pugh/> and served in that role for two years.<ref name="ENZ 1966"/>

==Honours==
Seddon attended Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee and received her [[Queen Victoria Diamond Jubilee Medal|Jubilee Medal]] and an appointment in the [[Privy Council]]. In 1902 he attended the [[coronation of King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra]] and received his [[King Edward VII Coronation Medal|Coronation Medal]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://collections.tepapa.govt.nz/objectdetails.aspx?oid=1068571912|title=Object: Queen Victoria Diamond Jubilee Medal, 1897|publisher=[[Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa]]}}</ref> During the same visit, he received the [[Freedom of the Borough]] of his home-town St Helens during a visit there in July 1902,<ref>{{Cite newspaper The Times |title=Mr. Seddon at St Helens |date=7 July 1900 |page=4 |issue=36813}}</ref> and the Freedom of the City of [[Edinburgh]] and an honorary degree [[LL.D.]] from the [[University of Edinburgh]] during a visit to the city later the same month.<ref>{{Cite newspaper The Times |title=The Colonial Premiers in Edinburgh |date=28 July 1902 |page=4 |issue=36831}}</ref> He was also presented with the Honorary [[Freedom of the City|Freedom]] of the [[Worshipful Company of Tallow Chandlers]] on 8 August 1902.<ref>{{Cite newspaper The Times |title=Mr Seddon at the Tallow Chandler´s Company|date=9 August 1902 |page=6 |issue=36842}}</ref>

He twice refused a knighthood, wanting to be seen as a [[wikt:man of the people|man of the people]].<ref name="nzhistory"/>

==Death==
[[File:Funeral of Richard 'King Dick' Seddon, 21 June 1906.jpg|alt=Funeral of Richard 'King Dick' Seddon, 21 June 1906|thumb|Funeral of Richard 'King Dick' Seddon, 21 June 1906<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://coololdphotos.com/funeral-for-new-zealands-king-dick-in-1906/|title=Funeral for New Zealand's "King Dick" in 1906|last=Tom|date=2018-07-02|website=Cool Old Photos|language=en-US|access-date=2019-02-23}}</ref>]]
Seddon remained Prime Minister for 13 years, but gradually, calls for him to retire became more frequent. Various attempts to replace him with [[Joseph Ward]] met with failure.

In June 1906, while returning from a trip to Australia on the ship ''Oswestry Grange'', he was sitting with his wife in his cabin waiting to be called to dinner when he suddenly placed his head on his wife's shoulder, and said, "Oh, mother," before expiring of a massive heart attack at 6.20 pm on 10 June.<ref name= Colonist>{{cite news |title= Death of the Premier |newspaper= Colonist |location= Nelson |date= 2 July 1906|url= https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/TC19060702.2.24.2 |access-date= 10 July 2024}}</ref> Immediately following his death the ship, which was {{convert|110|mi|km}} from Sydney Heads, turned back to port, its flag at half-mast.<ref name= Colonist/> He died 12 days before his 61st birthday.{{sfn|Brooking|2014|p=261}} On the eve of his departure, he had sent a number of telegrams, among whom was one to the premier of Victoria, [[Thomas Bent]], which contained the words, “Just leaving for God's own country”.<ref name= Colonist/>

News of his death provoked numerous public gestures of grief, which included black-bordered displays in shop windows and several public monuments, including a memorial lamp post outside the [[St Helens Hospitals, New Zealand| St Helens Hospital]] in Pitt Street Auckland.

Seddon’s funeral was held on 21 June 1906 and he was buried in [[Wellington]]'s Bolton Street Cemetery, now [[Bolton Street Memorial Park]].<ref name= EP1>{{cite news |title= The Final Scene: Funeral of the Late Premier |newspaper= Evening Post |location= Wellington |date= 21 June 1906|url= https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/EP19060621.2.27|access-date= 30 June 2024}}</ref>

Joseph Ward was away in London at the time of Seddon's death. He succeeded Seddon as Prime Minister nearly two months later, on 6 August 1906.<ref>{{DNZB|Bassett|Michael|2W9|Ward, Joseph George|26 November 2011||Michael Bassett}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Seddon married [[Louisa Seddon|Louisa Jane Spotswood]] on 13 January 1869 in Trinity Church, Williamstown, Victoria, Australia. Lousia was born on 28 May 1851 in Williamstown, Victoria, Australia to Anna Victoria (nee Normandale) and John Stuart Spotswood.<ref>{{cite book |year= 1897 |title= The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Wellington Provincial District]: Mrs. Seddon |location= Wellington |publisher= The Cyclopedia Company, Limited |page= 43 |type= Hardcover |url= https://ndhadeliver.natlib.govt.nz/webarchive/20210104000423/http://nzetc.victoria.ac.nz/tm/scholarly/tei-Cyc01Cycl-t1-body-d3-d5-d3.html}}</ref> After a long illness Louisa died at her home, "Eccleston,” in Wellington on 9 July 1931.<ref>{{cite news |title= Death of Mrs. Seddon |newspaper= Evening Post |location= Wellington |date= 9 July 1931|url= https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/EP19310709.2.78|access-date= 8 July 2024}}</ref> Flags were flown at half-mast, on various Government buildings on the day of her funeral.<ref>{{cite news |title= The Late Mrs. Seddon |newspaper= Evening Post |location= Wellington |date= 13 July 1931 |url= https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/EP19310713.2.130.6 |access-date= 8 July 2024}}</ref>

The couple had the following eleven children with nine surviving to adulthood.
* Jane Anne Seddon. Born 8 May 1870 In Waimea, Westland. She died on 20 August 1955.
* Phoebe Alicia Seddon. Born on 26 June 1871. She died on 5 December 1944.
* Louisa Jane Spottswood Seddon. Born on 10 December 1872 in Big Dam, Westland. She died on 12 October 1957.
* Mary Stuart Charleston Seddon. Born on 20 June 1874 in Charlestown, West Coast. She died on 17 April 1946. Interred with her parents.
* Catherine Youd Lindsay Seddon. Born on 17 January 1876 in Kumara. She died on 20 October 1877.
* Catherine Youd Lindsay Seddon. Born on 24 March 1878 in Kumara, West Coast. She died on 2 July 1881.
* [[Elizabeth Gilmer| Elizabeth May Seddon]]. Born on 24 March 1880 in Kumara. She died on 29 February 1960.
* Richard John Spotswood Seddon. Born on 29 May 1881 in Kumara. He was killed at Bapaume, France on 21 August 1918 while serving as a captain with the [[New Zealand Expeditionary Force]].<ref>{{cite web |title= Captain Richard Seddon |url= https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/cwgc-archive/efiles/seddon/ |website= Commonwealth war graves commission |accessdate= 7 July 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title= Captain Seddon Killed |newspaper= Star |location= Christchurch |date= 26 August 1918 |url= https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/TS19180826.2.45|access-date= 6 July 2024}}</ref> Over a ten-year period his mother campaigned without success to have his remains repatriated back to New Zealand. The original wooden cross from Seddon’s grave was brought back to New Zealand by one of his sisters and now resides inside the Seddon Memorial.<ref>{{cite web |last= Jemmett |first= Cindy |date= 24 April 2016 |title= Memorial for a Much-Loved Son |url= https://osphistory.org/2016/04/24/memorial-for-a-much-loved-son/ |website= Old St Paul's Wellington New Zealand |accessdate= 7 July 2024}}</ref>
* [[Tom Seddon| Thomas Edward Youd Seddon]]. Born 2 July 1884 in Kumara. He died 22 January 1972.
* John Stewart Spotswood Seddon. Born on 20 July 1887 in Kumara. He died in 1969.
* Rubi Jessie Seddon. Born on 11 January 1889 in Kumara. She died on 19 December 1956.

==Legacy==
[[File:Portrait of Richard John Seddon 1907 by EVM.jpg|thumb|left|1907 portrait by [[Ellen von Meyern]]]]
He is considered by academics and historians to be one of New Zealand's greatest and most revered prime ministers.<ref>{{cite web|title=Who was our best Prime Minister? {{!}} Jesse Mulligan, 1–4pm, 2:30 pm on 8 September 2016 {{!}} RNZ|url=http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/afternoons/audio/201815361/who-was-our-best-prime-minister|publisher=[[Radio New Zealand]] |language=en-nz|date=8 September 2016}}</ref> Seddon centralised government decision-making around himself—at his peak he exercised "almost one-man, one-party rule"<ref name="nzhistory"/>—and, in doing so, he established the premiership as the ''de facto'' most important political office in New Zealand.

Seddon's son [[Thomas Seddon (politician)|Thomas]] replaced him as MP for [[Westland (New Zealand electorate)|Westland]] in the by-election following his death. When Thomas met former [[President of the United States|US President]] [[Theodore Roosevelt]] in 1918, he expressed admiration for his late father, particularly the labour legislation his government passed.{{sfn|Seddon|1968|p=299}}

A [[Seddon, New Zealand|town in New Zealand]] and a [[Seddon, Victoria|suburb]] of Melbourne, Australia are named after him. Wellington Zoo was originally created when a young lion was presented to Prime Minister Richard Seddon by the Bostock and Wombwell Circus. Seddon created the Zoo from this single specimen and the lion was later named King Dick in the Prime Minister's honour. The stuffed body of King Dick (the lion) is displayed on the ground floor of the [[Museum of Wellington City & Sea]]. St Mary's Church in Addington, Christchurch also has a memorial bell tower to Richard Seddon.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://stmarysaddington.org/wordpress/history/|title= St Mary's Addington A heritage church in the heart of Addington|publisher=St Mary's Addington|access-date=28 January 2015}}</ref>

The [[John Campbell, 9th Duke of Argyll|Duke of Argyll]] unveiled a memorial to Seddon in [[St Paul's Cathedral]], London, in 1910.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/WC19100324.2.9.1 |title=Unveiling in St. Paul's |date=24 March 1910 |work=Wanganui Chronicle |page=3 |access-date=13 June 2019}}</ref> It shows a portrait of Seddon with the inscription "
{{smallcaps|To the memory of Richard John Seddon prime minister of New Zealand 1893–1906 imperialist statesman reformer born June 22nd 1845 at St Helens Lancashire buried at Observatory Hill Wellington New Zealand}}"

===Seddon memorial===
Following Seddon's death plans were put in place to erect a suitable memorial which would also incorporate a Seddon family mausoleum. It was quickly agreed that the existing Colonial Time Service Observatory on top of Observatory Hill (today part of [[Bolton Street Memorial Park]]) should be torn down to make way for it.<ref name=A1>{{cite web |last1= Biswell |first1= Shelly Farr |last2= Nester |first2= Richard |title= Time |url= https://www.nzgeo.com/stories/time/|website= New Zealand geographic |accessdate= 24 June 2024}}</ref> A new observatory was later constructed on the site of the former Garden coast defence battery at the top of the Botanic Gardens.

The memorial was designed by government architect [[John Campbell (architect)| John Campbell]] and constructed by Edwards and Son of Wellington with the above ground portion consisting of reinforced concrete faced with Coromandel granite.<ref name=Moor>{{Citation |last= Moor |first= Christopher |title= Wellington's Tributes to Seddon |journal= New Zealand Memories |issue= 166 |pages= 57–58 |date= February 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title= Seddon Memorial |url= https://mch.govt.nz/nz-identity-heritage/national-monuments-war-graves/seddon-memorial |website= mch.govt.nz |publisher= Ministry for Culture and Heritage |access-date= 1 January 2020}}</ref> It cost £2,746.<ref name=Moor/> Constructed between 1908 and 1910<ref name=SRA>{{cite web |title= Seddon Memorial |url= https://www.salmondreed.co.nz/projects/seddon-memorial |website= Salmond Reed Architects |accessdate= 28 June 2024}}</ref> the memorial is topped by a bronze female figure approximately {{convert|8|ft|m}} in height and weighing {{convert|2|LT|kg}} symbolising the “Zealandia”, the country mourning its dead.<ref>{{cite news |title= A Seddon Memorial for Observatory Hill |newspaper= Evening Post |location= Wellington |date= 31 May 1910|url= https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/EP19100531.2.10 |access-date= 3 July 2024}}</ref> Costing approximately £500, the figure was designed at the London studio of sculptor [[Henry Poole (sculptor)| Henry Poole]] and cast by Alexander Parlanti.<ref>{{cite news |title= Seddon Monument: Arrival of Bronze Figure |newspaper= Dominion |location= Wellington |date= 14 June 1910 |url= https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/DOM19100614.2.75 |access-date= 3 July 2024}}</ref><ref name=Moor/> The concrete crypt underneath contains the body of Seddon, his wife Louisa, their daughter Mary Stuart Hay and memorial to their son Captain Richard Spotswood Seddon, who was killed in 1918 while serving in France.<ref name=Moor/>

The family remains were temporally removed when between 2021 and December 2022 when the memorial was restored and seismically strengthened by the installation of a structural steel frame in the crypt and central void, combined with the installation of 17 post-tension tie rods.<ref name=SRA/> 

===Statues of Seddon===
[[File:Parliament House (Statue of Richard John Seddon 1845-1906).JPG|thumb|upright|Seddon's statue stands outside Parliament Buildings in Wellington.]]
A {{convert|9|ft|6|in|m}} high bronze statue on a {{convert|15|ft|m}} pedestal of Aberdeen granite to Seddon was erected facing Molesworth Street in front of the main entrance to [[New Zealand Parliament Buildings|Parliament Buildings]].<ref name=Moor/> It was commissioned by then-Prime Minister Sir Joseph Ward from Sir [[Thomas Brock]]. The statue has him wearing a frock coat which was based on the one that he had worn while speaking at Papawai near Greytown. The coat had been brought to Brock in 1905 by Louisa Seddon and her daughter Mary.<ref name=Moor/>
The statue was paid for by jointly by the government and the public, with its completion delayed by the landscaping of the grounds and the construction of Seddon’s memorial.<ref name=Moor/> At a public event attended by 1,500 people on 26 June 1915 the statue was unveiled by the Governor-General, Lord Liverpool.<ref>{{cite news |title= Honouring the Dead: RT. Hon. R. J. Seddon |newspaper= Dominion |location= Wellington |date= 28 June 1915 |url= https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/DOM19150628.2.83 |access-date= 30 June 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title= Honoured Dead: The Seddon Statue Unveiled |newspaper= Evening Post |location= Wellington |date= 28 June 1915|url= https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/EP19150628.2.37|access-date= 30 June 2024}}</ref> Among those attending were members of Seddon’s family, the prime minister William Massey, Sir Joseph Ward and Sir John Luke, mayor of Wellington.<ref name=Moor/>
 
In October 1966 anti-Vietnam war protestors painted “No New Zealand Troops in Vietnam” across the plinth. In November 1988 a group protesting against the signing of the Antarctic convention and the risk they believed it posed to wildlife enclosed the statue in a giant penguin suit. In February 2022, an anti-mandate and anti-lockdown Covid-19 protestor tagged it with a Nazi Swastika and the words “Freedom” and “Truth”. 

Since 11 November 1981 the statue has had a Historic Places category 1 listing.<ref>{{cite web |title= Seddon Statue |url= https://www.heritage.org.nz/list-details/230/Seddon%20Statue|website= Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga |accessdate= 24 June 2024}}</ref>

Another statue of [[Statue of Richard Seddon, Hokitika|Seddon]] has a prominent position in the West Coast town of [[Hokitika]]. 

==Notes and references==
===Notes===
{{Reflist}}

===References===
{{refbegin|30em}}
* {{cite book |last= Berendsen |first= Carl |author-link= Carl Berendsen |title= Mr Ambassador: Memoirs of Sir Carl Berendsen |year= 2009 |publisher=[[Victoria University Press]] |location= Wellington |isbn= 9780864735843}}
* {{Cite book |last= Brooking |first= Tom |author-link= Tom Brooking |title= Richard Seddon: King of God's Own |publisher= Penguin |year= 2014 |location= [[Auckland]]|isbn= 9780143569671}}<!-- Q101413725 -->
* {{Cite book |last= Burdon |first= Randal Mathews |author-link= Randal Mathews Burdon |title= King Dick: A Biography of Richard John Seddon |publisher= Whitcombe and Tombs |year= 1955 |location= [[Christchurch]]}}
* {{Cite book |last=Hamer |first=David A. |author-link=D. A. Hamer |title=The New Zealand Liberals: The Years of Power, 1891–1912 |year=1988 |place=Auckland |publisher=[[Auckland University Press]] |isbn=1-86940-014-3 |oclc=18420103 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/newzealandlibera0000hame }}
* {{Cite ODNB |last= Hamer |first=David A. |author-link=D. A. Hamer | title=Seddon, Richard John (1845–1906) |year= 2006 |location=[[Christchurch]] |url= http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/36002| doi=10.1093/ref:odnb/36002}}
* {{Cite book |last= Hamer |first= David A. |author-link= D. A. Hamer |title= Seddon, Richard John (1845–1906) |publisher= [[Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand]] |year= 2014 |location=[[Wellington]] |url= http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/biographies/2s11/seddon-richard-john}}
* {{cite book |last= Lipson |first= Leslie |author-link= Leslie Lipson |title= The Politics of Equality: New Zealand's Adventures in Democracy |orig-year= 1948 |year= 2011 |publisher=Victoria University Press |location= Wellington |isbn= 978-0-86473-646-8}} 
* {{cite journal |author-link= Jack Nagel |last1= Nagel |first1= Jack H. |title= Populism, Heresthetics and Political Stability: Richard Seddon and the Art of Majority Rule |journal=British Journal of Political Science |date=1993 |location= [[Christchurch]] |volume=23 |issue=2 |pages=139–174 |doi=10.1017/S0007123400009716 |issn=0007-1234 |jstor= 194246 |s2cid= 154806794 }}
* {{cite book |last= Seddon |first= Thomas |author-link= Tom Seddon |title= The Seddons, An Autobiography| publisher=Collins|location=[[Auckland]], [[London]] |year= 1968}}
* {{cite book |last=Scott |first= Dick |author-link= Dick Scott (historian) |title= Ask That Mountain: The Story of Parihaka |publisher= Heinemann |year= 1975}}
* {{cite book |last= Wolfe |first= Richard |title= Battlers Bluffers and Bully-boys: How New Zealand's Prime Ministers Have Shaped Our Nation |year= 2005 |publisher= [[Random House, New Zealand]] |isbn= 1-86941-715-1}}
{{refend}}

==Further reading==
* {{cite wikisource |first= James Mackay |last= Drummond |title= The Life and Work of Richard John Seddon |wslink= The Life and Work of Richard John Seddon |year= 1907 |publisher= Whitcombe and Tombs Limited}}

==External links==
{{subject bar|auto=y|d=y|New Zealand|Politics}}
* [http://www.nzhistory.govt.nz/media/photo/richard-seddon-asleep Sketch of Richard Seddon asleep in Parliament during an all-night sitting, 1898]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20110724192652/http://www.hitormiss.co.nz/index_files/Page929.htm The Seddon-Stout struggle]
* {{cite news |url= https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/TO18970724.2.22?end_date=31-12-1900&query=Seddon |title= Cartoons of Dick Seddon's Royal Progress |work=Observer |via=Papers Past |date=24 July 1897 }}

{{S-start}}
{{S-gov}}
{{S-bef | before = [[John Ballance]] }}
{{S-ttl | title = [[Prime Minister of New Zealand]] | years=1893–1906}}
{{S-aft | after = [[William Hall-Jones]] }}
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{{s-ttl | title = [[Minister of Mines (New Zealand)|Minister of Mines]] | years=1891–1893}}
{{s-aft | after = [[Alfred Cadman]]}}
|-
{{s-ttl | title = [[Minister of Works (New Zealand)|Minister of Public Works]] | years=1891–1896}}
{{s-aft | after = [[William Hall-Jones]]}}
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{{s-ttl | title = [[Minister of Defence (New Zealand)|Minister of Defence]] | years=1891–1896<br><br>1900–1906|rows=2}}
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{{s-bef | before = [[Thomas Thompson (New Zealand politician)|Thomas Thompson]]}}
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{{s-ttl | title = [[Postmaster-General (New Zealand)|Postmaster-General<br />and Electric Telegraph Commissioner]] | years=1896–1899}}
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{{s-ttl | title = [[Minister of Education (New Zealand)|Minister of Education]] | years=1903–1906}}
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{{s-ppo}}
{{S-bef | before = [[John Ballance]] }}
{{s-ttl | title=[[New Zealand Liberal Party#Parliamentary leaders|Leader of the Liberal Party]]| years=1893–1906}}
{{s-aft | after = [[William Hall-Jones]]}}
|-
{{s-par | nz}}
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{{s-ttl | title = [[Hokitika (New Zealand electorate)|Member of Parliament for Hokitika]] | years=1879–1881 |alongside = [[Robert Reid (New Zealand politician)|Robert Reid]]}}
{{s-aft | after=[[Gerard George Fitzgerald]] }}
{{s-new | constituency}}
{{s-ttl | title = [[Kumara (New Zealand electorate)|Member of Parliament for Kumara]] | years=1881–1890}}
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|-
{{s-vac | reason = Constituency recreated after abolition in 1868 | last = [[William Sefton Moorhouse]]}}
{{s-ttl | title = [[Westland (New Zealand electorate)|Member of Parliament for Westland]] | years=1890–1906}}
{{s-aft | after= [[Tom Seddon]]}}
{{s-end}}

{{New Zealand prime ministers}}
{{NZ Liberal Party}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Seddon, Richard}}
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