John Ballance

From Philosopedia

Ballance, John (27 March 1839 - 27 April 1893)

Born in Ireland, the first of 11 children, Ballance is known as a New Zealand freethinker, reformer, and legislator. Son of a Primitive Methodist and a unitarian Quaker, he became a strict Anglican, then a Presbyterian, then an agnostic.

An ironmonger's apprentice, he emigrated first to Birmingham, then, with his new wife, to New Zealand, where the two intended to open a jewelry shop. When it became a possibility to found a newspaper, The Wanganui Herald, he became its editor and remained chief owner for the rest of his life. Influenced by the ideas of Robert Owen and the secularist movement, he wrote for Robert Stout’s freethought journal, the Echo and helped form the Wanganui Freethought Association.

First elected to the House of Representatives in 1875 on a ticket calling for free education, Ballance later became Minister of Education and Minister of Finance. He was then appointed Native Minister and Minister for Defence and Lands.

John Ballance Statue outside Wellington's Parliamentary Library

Ballance founded New Zealand's Liberal Party. In 1891, Ballance was elected the 14th Prime Minister of New Zealand (1891 - 1893) as a Liberal. He is credited with many progressive reforms, improving government relations with Maoris and calling for the "absolute equality of the sexes." As premier, Ballance secured the right to vote for his countrywomen, making New Zealand the first country to do so.

The Honorable John Ballance openly professed and worked for atheism, rationalism, and agnosticism. He died in Wellington of an intestinal disease and related surgery.

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