Daniel Wakefield

Who was Daniel Wakefield?

Daniel Bell Wakefield was a notable judge in New Zealand during the mid-19th century.

Wakefield was the second child of Edward Wakefield and Susanna, née Crash. As a child in England, Wakefield was thought to be rather 'slow' and showed little initiative at school. During his later school years he lived with Francis Place, one of the leading radical reformers of the era and a friend of his father. On leaving school he was apprenticed to learn book-keeping, conveyancing and practical farming, but soon disgraced himself and was sent to Amsterdam to work in a merchant's office.

Place described him as lazy, sulky and disagreeable and probably dishonest but was determined to persevere with Daniel out of respect for his father. It seems that his brothers, Edward Gibbon and Arthur were not particularly impressed with him either, they described him as a dull, ill-mannered fellow most notable for his sloth and indolence.

However, by 1824, he had discovered enough energy to elope with Selina Elizabeth de Burgh, much to the dismay of her parents who were not impressed by him. Selina however died four years later without issue, by which time, Wakefield's career prospects had been dealt a further blow by the trial, conviction and imprisonment of his brothers Edward and William for the abduction of a young girl.