James Frederick Stuart-WortleyJP (16 January 1833 – 27 November 1870[1][2]) was a politician in New Zealand and the UK. He was New Zealand's inaugural Baby of the House and remains the youngest member of parliament in the country's history; in fact he was too young (at 20 years and 7 months) to even be legally elected.
He bought 500 acres (200 ha) of land at Tai Tapu near Halswell.[4] In October 1852, he purchased Run 53, located between Lake Ellesmere / Te Waihora and the Selwyn River. He on-sold the land in June 1853 and it became part of the Harman and Davie's Station.[8] Stuart-Wortley then started Hawkeswood Station in partnership with others. This station was located north of the Waiau Uwha River.[8]
There is doubt whether he is actually of age. The Peerage says no, but he says yes, and upon the best authority, namely that of his family lawyers.
Stuart-Wortley was 20 years and 7 months when elected; so was not yet 21, the minimum age to qualify as an elector.[3][12]
After the first session of Parliament finished in August 1854, Stuart-Wortley travelled with Frederick Weld from Auckland (where Parliament met in those years) to Tauranga, Maketu, and Rotorua.[13] He resigned his seat on 18 July 1855[9] and returned to the United Kingdom.[14] His seat stayed vacant until the next election, which was held on 20 December 1855 in the Christchurch Country electorate.[15]
^The journal was written for friends and family in England, and Sewell asked that it only be published after his death. It was not before 1920 that his journal became accessible through a library, and 1980 before it was published as a book with two volumes.[10]
^McLintock, A. H., ed. (27 October 2011) [originally published in 1966]. "BOWEN, Sir Charles Christopher, K.C.M.G.". An Encyclopaedia of New Zealand. Ministry for Culture and Heritage / Te Manatū Taonga. Retrieved 20 September 2012.
Craig, F. W. S. (1989) [1977]. British parliamentary election results 1832–1885 (2nd ed.). Chichester: Parliamentary Research Services. ISBN0-900178-26-4.