The Dictionary of Australasian Biography/Andrew, Rev. John Chapman

712404The Dictionary of Australasian Biography — Andrew, Rev. John ChapmanPhilip Mennell

Andrew, Rev. John Chapman, M.A., J.P., was born on March 7th, 1822, at Whitby, in Yorkshire, his father, the Rev. James Andrew, being then rector of the parish. He was educated first at Whitby, and then at St. Peter's school, York, from which latter, having taken an exhibition, he proceeded to University College, Oxford. Having graduated B.A. in 1840, taking second-class honours in both classics and mathematics, Mr. Andrew was appointed one of the masters to the new school at Rossal, in Lancashire. In 1845 he was elected Fellow of Lincoln College, Oxford; and, having proceeded to the degree of M.A. in 1847, was ordained deacon in the same year, and priest in 1848, being vicar of St. Michael's, Oxford, 1848-9. At Lincoln College Mr. Andrew acted as mathematical lecturer, Greek lecturer, and tutor successively; and in 1857 went out to Wellington, New Zealand, where he had a sheep station on the Waitangi for some years. He was a member of the Provincial Council of Wellington from 1868 until the abolition of the provincial system in 1875. In 1870 Mr. Andrew was returned as one of the two members for Wairarapa in the General Assembly, as also in 1876. In the latter year he migrated to Nelson, and in 1880 was appointed principal of Nelson College. He has always been actively interested in educational matters in New Zealand, and from 1868 to 1876 was a member of the Wellington Education Board. In 1878 he was appointed to the Senate of the New Zealand University, and is now the Vice-Chancellor. He was appointed J. P. by Sir Edward Stafford's Government.