author
George Grey
1812–1898
A soldier, explorer, and empire-builder, he became one of the most influential figures in 19th-century colonial government. His career carried him from Australia and South Africa to New Zealand, where he later also served as premier.
2 Audiobooks
About the author
Born in Lisbon in 1812, Sir George Grey was a British soldier and explorer who rose quickly in public life after expeditions in Western Australia. He went on to hold a series of major colonial posts, serving as governor of South Australia, twice as governor of New Zealand, and later as governor of Cape Colony.
Grey was known for stepping into difficult situations and trying to shape policy on Indigenous affairs, land, and settlement, though his record remains debated because it was tied closely to the expansion of British imperial power. Alongside politics and administration, he was also a writer and collector, with a lasting interest in languages, manuscripts, and traditional stories.
In later life he returned to New Zealand politics and became the country’s 11th premier. He died in London in 1898, leaving behind a legacy that is both prominent and contested in the histories of New Zealand, Australia, and South Africa.