Robert Bradford Williams
Robert Bradford Williams (24 June 1860—28 May 1942) was a New Zealand lawyer, musician, and politician. He was the mayor of the Borough of Onslow from 1902 to 1907, and was the first African-American mayor in New Zealand.[1]
Williams was born in Augusta, Georgia.[2] He was educated at the Williston Northampton School, and then at Yale University, graduating in 1885.[3] After some time teaching and lecturing in the American south, he joined the Fisk Jubilee Singers for their 1886–87 world tour.[2] He married Catherine Josephine Burke while on tour in Tasmania in 1886, and the couple moved to Wellington, New Zealand when the tour was complete.[1]
Williams studied law in Wellington, and was admitted to the bar in 1889.[2] He worked initially with Brown, Skerrett & Dean before establishing his own practice, and then forming a partnership with Vincent Meredith.[2] He was elected mayor of Onslow in 1902,[4] and was re-elected unopposed the following year.[5] He continued to serve as mayor until he stepped down in 1907.[1] He ran unsuccessfully as an independent for the seat of Wellington Suburbs at the 1908 New Zealand general election, and again for Wellington South at the 1914 election.[1]
References
- 1 2 3 4 Gábor Tóth (2 October 2025). "Robert Bradford Williams: Wellington's African-American Mayor". Wellington City Libraries. Retrieved 25 May 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 Paul, Jane (2008). "Robert Bradford Williams: The African-American Yale Graduate who became Mayor of Onslow" (PDF). Onslow Historian. 37 (1).
- ↑ "Robert Bradford Williams". Yale Library. Retrieved 25 May 2026.
- ↑ "Onslow: election of Mayor". Evenng Post. 2 May 1902. p. 6. Retrieved 25 May 2026 – via Papers Past.
- ↑ "MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS". New Zealand Times. 22 April 1903. p. 7. Retrieved 25 May 2026 – via Papers Past.
- ↑ "DEATHS". Evening Post. 29 May 1942. p. 1. Retrieved 25 May 2026 – via Papers Past.