James Busby
James Busby (February 7, 1801 or 1802 - July 15, 1871) is widely regarded as the "father" of the Australian wine industry, as he brought the first collection of vine stock from Spain and France to Australia.He was born in Scotland, the son of John Busby. They emigrated from Britain to New South Wales together in 1824.
In March 1832 James was appointed to the position of First Resident of New Zealand. He arrived in the Bay of Islands and in 1833 was provided with the frame of a house, which was completed in Waitangi the following year.
His duties were to protect British commerce and control the unruly British subjects present in New Zealand. However he was not provided with resources to impose this authority.
Busby proposed that New Zealand should have a national flag, after an unregistered New Zealand ship was seized in Australia. A selection of 3 or 4 flags was sent from Australia, and one was choosen by the Maori chiefs at a meeting at his residency on March 20, 1834.
In 1835 Busby learned that a Frenchman was proposing to declare French sovereignty over New Zealand. He drafted the Declaration of the Independence of New Zealand and at a meeting in October signed it together with 35 chiefs from the northern part of New Zealand.
After the arrival of William Hobson in 1840, he co-authored with him the Treaty of Waitangi. It was signed on February 5 and 6 1840 on the lawn outside his residence.
Busby stayed in Waitangi with his family until 1871, when he travelled to London for an eye operation. There he died of a chill on July 15.
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