John Ballance (27 March 1839 – 27 April 1893) was a New Zealand politician who served as the 14th premier of New Zealand from January 1891 until his death in April 1893. He governed as the leader of New Zealand's first organised political party, the New Zealand Liberal Party, which was formed shortly after the 1890 election.
Born in Ireland, Ballance emigrated to New Zealand in 1866, where he initially worked as a journalist before entering politics. He represented Whanganui in Parliament, and was known for his progressive and reformist views. Elected leader of the Opposition in 1889, Ballance led liberal factions to victory in the 1890 election. His Liberal Government implemented progressive policies, including land reform, and introduced a land tax influenced by Georgist principles. It also laid the groundwork for women's suffrage, achieved shortly after his death.
Ballance emphasised egalitarianism and sought to balance the interests of urban workers and rural farmers. Despite his relatively short tenure, his reforms profoundly influenced the country's political landscape. Ballance died in office in 1893. He was succeeded as head of government by Richard Seddon.
Early life
The eldest son of Samuel Ballance, a tenant farmer, and Mary McNiece, Ballance was born on 27 March 1839 in Glenavy in County Antrim Ireland (modern-day Northern Ireland). He was educated at a national school, then apprenticed to an ironmonger in Belfast. He later became a clerk in a wholesale ironmonger's house in Birmingham, where he married. Ballance was highly interested in literature, and was known for spending vast amounts of time reading books. He also became interested in politics, mostly due to the influence of his parents – his father was active in conservative circles, while his mother was a liberal and a Quaker. It was from his mother that Ballance gained many of the ideas he was later to promote. Having witnessed religious rioting when in Belfast, he became committed to the principle of secularism. He became the editor, and remained chief owner for the rest of his life. During the fighting with the Māori chief Titokowaru in 1867, Ballance was involved in the raising of a volunteer cavalry troop, in which he received a commission. He was later deprived of this owing to the appearance in the Herald of articles criticising the management of the campaign. He behaved well in the field, and, in spite of his dismissal, was awarded the New Zealand Medal.
Following the conflict, Ballance's status in Wanganui grew. He was respected for his management of the Herald, particularly his forthright and direct approach to reporting. He became increasingly involved in the affairs of the town, establishing a number of societies and associations. Perhaps the least important to Wanganui but among the most important to him was the chess club – he became a skilled player. In 1868 his wife Fanny died of illness, aged only 24. Two years later, he married Ellen Anderson, the daughter of a Wellington merchant. This was a cause he had partially inherited from his colleague in the Stout government, Julius Vogel, and in which he was influenced by his politically astute wife.
Death
thumbnail|Ballance's gravestone in Whanganui
In 1893, at the height of his success and popularity, he died in Wellington of cancer. He was the first New Zealand Prime Minister to die in office.
A state funeral was held for Ballance in Whanganui on 30 April 1893, and he was buried in Whanganui the same day.
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