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| monarch = Victoria Edward VII | governor = David Boyle Uchter Knox William Plunket | term_start = 27 April 1893 | term_end = 10 June 1906 | predecessor = John Ballance | successor = William Hall-Jones | birth_date = | birth_place = Eccleston, England | death_date = | death_place = At sea | spouse = Louisa Jane Spotswood (m. 1869) | children = 9, including Tom Seddon | party = Independent (1879–91) Liberal (1891–1906) | constituency = Hokitika (1879–81) Kumara (1881–90) Westland (1890–1906) | religion = Anglican | footnotes = }} Richard John Seddon (22 June 1845 – 10 June 1906) is to date the longest-serving Prime Minister of New Zealand. He is regarded by some, including historian Keith Sinclair, as one of New Zealand's greatest political leaders. Sometimes derisively known as King Dick for his autocratic style, Seddon dominated the Liberal government for thirteen years, achieving many social and economic changes. ==Early life and family== Seddon was born in Eccleston near St Helens, Lancashire, England in 1845. 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. Their children were: * Thomas born 1842, who died 1849 * Phoebe Ellen born 1843 died 1925 in New Zealand. * Richard John born 1845, the subject of this article * Edward Youd, born 1847 died 1919 in Greymouth * William born 1849 died 1855 * Sarah Jane born 1853 died 1854 * James (Jim) born 1854 died 1898 * Mary Jane born 1857 died 1932, Westport, New Zealand. Married George Gunn McKay. Despite this background, Seddon did not perform well at school, and was described as unruly. Despite his parents' attempt to give him a 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, Seddon was an apprentice at Daglish's Foundry in St Helens. He later worked at Vauxhall foundry in Liverpool, where he attained a Board of Trade Certificate as a mechanical engineer. On 15 June 1862, at the age of 16, Seddon decided to emigrate to Australia, on the SS Great Britain. He later provided his reasoning: "A restlessness to get away to see new, broad lands seized me: My work was irksome. I felt cramped." He entered the railway workshops at Melbourne, Victoria. He was caught by the gold fever and went to Bendigo, where he spent some time in the diggings. 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 more financially secure. In 1866, Seddon moved to New Zealand's West Coast. Initially, he worked the goldfields in 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 publican. He was followed to the West Coast by his older sister Phoebe, younger brothers Edward and Jim and younger sister Mary. 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. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Richard Seddon」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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