Frank Buckland

Who was Frank Buckland?

William Francis Buckland was a 19th-century Member of Parliament in New Zealand, and an independent conservative MP.

Buckland was born in 1847 and was the only son of William Thorne Buckland. He received private tuition and attended St John's College. He trained as a civil engineer and was employed by the engineer's department of the Auckland Provincial Council, before joining the Colonial Survey as a surveyor. He then became mine manager in Thames.

He held various public offices in Remuera between 1873 and 1880. He represented two south Auckland parliamentary electorates; first Franklin North electorate from 1884 to 1887, when he was defeated. He then represented the Manukau electorate from 1890 to 1893, when he was again defeated. He again contested the Manukau electorate in the 1896 election, but could not beat the incumbent, Sir Maurice O'Rorke. He tried again in 1899, when four candidates contested the electorate, but O'Rorke remained successful.

He was mayor of Cambridge 1898–1903 and 1905–1910. He practised law in Cambridge.

He died on 29 December 1915. His wife had died before him.