Daniel Wakefield (judge)

Daniel Bell Wakefield (27 February 1798^[1] – 8 January 1858^[2]) was born in Burnham-on-Crouch, Essex, England.

Wakefield was the second child of Edward Wakefield (1774–1854) and Susanna, née Crush^[3] (d. 1816). In 1824 he eloped with, and then married Selina Elizabeth de Burgh in 1824.They had one Son, Charles Wakefield. Both Charles and his Mother died in 1828. In 1835 he married Angela Attwood, daughter of Thomas Attwood. Their first Child Selina was born in 1837, Charles Marcus in 1838 and Alice Mary in 1849. After obtaining his law degree, he practiced in London as a member of Lincoln's Inn. He drafted a Bill for the formation of a Colony in South Australia that was accepted by the Secretary of State for the Colonies with some provisos. The Adelaide Street Naming Committee rewarded his efforts by naming Wakefield Street in his honour.^[4]

He immigrated alone under a false name 'Bowler' to New Zealand in 1842,^[5] living first in New Plymouth and later moving to Wellington. In 1844, he was elected as head of a committee charged with forming the local militia. In 1847 he was named attorney general for New Munster Province, a post he held until 1853. He served as temporary judge in the Supreme Court in 1855–56. He died in Wellington on 8 January 1858.^[6]

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