Sir David Monro (27 March 1813 – 15 February 1877) was a New Zealand politician. He served as Speaker of the New Zealand House of Representatives from 1861 to 1870.

Early life

Monro was born in Edinburgh. His father was Alexander Monro, a lecturer at the Edinburgh Medical College. He graduated as a Doctor of Medicine from his father's college in 1835. After first studying for a time in Paris, Berlin and Vienna, Monro established a medical practice in Edinburgh. In 1841, however, Monro bought land in the planned settlement at Nelson, New Zealand. He arrived in Nelson the following year.

Monro married Dinah Secker on 7 May 1845 and they had five sons and two daughters, including Charles Monro, who introduced rugby union to New Zealand, and Maria Georgiana Monro, who married the Scottish geologist, naturalist, and surgeon James Hector. Monro remained Speaker until 1870, when he announced that he would step down. William Fox, who was once again Premier, failed to move the traditional vote of thanks. When Fell returned to England, Monro leased the house. Later, the house was bought by Nathaniel Edwards. The building at 64 Brougham Street in Nelson is one of the finest and largest examples of early Victorian Gothic Revivalism still remaining in New Zealand. At one time, the house had about 50 rooms.

Monro was knighted in 1866. He died at his home, Newstead (now known as Renwick House), in Nelson, New Zealand, on 15 February 1877.

The perennial herb endemic to New Zealand Myosotis monroi and the species of speargrass Aciphylla monroi are named after him.

See also

  • Munro of Auchinbowie, the distinguished Scottish family that David Monro was descended from.

References

Sources

  • "The Monros of Auchinbowie and Cognate Families". By John Alexander Inglis. Edinburgh. Printed privately by T and A Constable. Printers to His Majesty. 1911.

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