Charles Wilson

Charles Wilson (1857 – 1932) was born in Yorkshire and emigrated to New Zealand aged 22. After a brief stay in Dunedin, he moved to Wellington to take up a teaching position at Te Aro School. In 1882 he took up a position at Wanganui Collegiate but after four years he decided on a career change and began working as a journalist. After working for several newspapers around the North Island, he became editor of the Liberal-leaning New Zealand Mail. He then drifted into politics, winning the 'Wellington Suburbs' electorate for the Liberal Party in an 1897 by-election. In 1901 he was appointed to be the first Chief Librarian of the General Assembly (i.e. Parliamentary) Library. He oversaw the construction of the new library wing, insisting on strong fire protection measures and firewalls between it and the main parliamentary buildings. His caution was justified when the main parliament buildings were destroyed by fire in late 1907 but the library survived largely unscathed. He later became the first librarian of the Turnbull Library, holding the position until he retired due to illness in 1926.