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Wakefield (EDWARD GIBBON an English)

EDWARD GIBBON, an English colonist; born in London, March 20, 1796; was in 1826 imprisoned for abducting a young lady and marrying her at Gretna Green. During his imprisonment he studied colonial questions with zeal, and after his liberation assisted in the colonization of South Australia. He was private secretary to Lord Durham in Canada in 1838, but is best known for his services to 'New Zealand colonization as managing director of the New Zealand Association. He was one of the founders of the High Church colony of Canterbury, where he died May 16, 1862.