(1811-1887)
Poetry was Alfred Domett’s first love, but he was also an adventurer and early colonial administrator who rose to become Prime Minister of New Zealand.
To New Zealand
Born in London, Alfred studied at Cambridge University but left without taking a degree. As a young man he spent some years wandering around Canada, the United States, West Indies and Europe, before returning to London to study law. A central figure in a literary set, including Robert Browning, Domett published a number of poems to critical acclaim.
Restless and not interested in settling down to a career as a barrister, he decided to emigrate to New Zealand. Encouraged by family connections to New Zealand, including Alexander Nairne’s directorship of the New Zealand Company, he left London quickly without informing his friends. His sudden departure prompted Robert Browning to write Waring, one of his most popular poems. Waring is in fact Alfred Domett. The poem mourns his unexpected departure from London.
Civil servant and politician
Alfred Domett landed at Nelson in South Island in August 1842. After a difficult start he began to write articles for the local paper. Two years later he became its editor. He was asked to represent the Nelson settlers at a meeting of the Auckland government. He did this most effectively and was offered a seat on the Legislative Council. Later he became a senior civil servant responsible for crown lands and education policy.
In 1860 Domett was persuaded to stand as a member of the newly-established parliament. He was duly elected and served during its turbulent early years. None of the early administrations lasted very long. This was the case when Alfred took over in 1862. He was New Zealand’s fourth Prime Minister in only six years. An individualist more than a consensus builder, his administration lasted just over a year before it collapsed following bitter internal disagreements.
Literary life
He continued to write poetry, publishing an epic poem, Ranulf and Amohia, in 1872 soon after his return to London. This long romantic poem told the story of an early nineteenth century British sailor, shipwrecked on the North Island, who met and fell in love with a Maori princess. In London he caught up with Browning again and with other literary greats, including Alfred Lord Tennyson. More interested in poetry than politics, Domett devoted the rest of his life to literary pursuits.
For more information on this story see: Angela Coulter, A Stream of Lives, Matador Press 2021, available from Troubador Bookshop