KIRK, Thomas 1828–1898

Born Warwick, England: educated at Coventry and employed at first at timber mills at Newark. 1863 came to Auckland; became a devoted botanist, exploring Great Barrier 1867, the east coast of North Auckland 1868, Thames goldfields 1869, Waikato 1870 and Rotorua and Taupo 1872. For some years curator of Auckland Museum and secretary of the Auckland Institute. Lecturer at Wellington University College and at Lincoln Agricultural College; became Governor of New Zealand Institute; chief conservator of New Zealand State Forests. Wrote Forest Flora of New Zealand pub. 1889 and contributed to journals. After retiring made further explorations of islands south of New Zealand. His The Students' Flora of New Zealand and Outlying Islands pub. 1899 was completed by T. F. Cheeseman after his death.