Portal:New Zealand/Selected article/Week 43, 2006

Richard John Seddon (1845 - 1906), sometimes known as King Dick, was the longest serving Prime Minister of New Zealand (1893-1906). He is regarded by some as New Zealand's greatest political leader.

Unlike John Ballance, his predecessor as leader of the Liberal Party and Prime Minister, Seddon did not have any great commitment to philosophical liberalism &mdash; or, for that matter, to any ideology. Rather, he saw the Liberals as champions of "the common man" against large commercial interests and major landowners. His strong advocacy for what he saw as the interests of ordinary New Zealanders won him considerable popularity.

Seddon was a strong premier, and enforced his authority with great vigour. At one point, he even commented that "A president is all we require", and that Cabinet could be abolished. His opponents, both within the Liberal Party and in opposition, accused him of being an autocrat &mdash; the label "King Dick" was first applied to him at this point. Recently featured: Turangawaewae · Referendums in New Zealand · Wanganui · Archive