George Dean Pitt

George Dean Pitt
Born
George Dean

1781 (1781)
Hampshire, England
Died8 January 1851(1851-01-08) (aged 69–70)
Auckland, New Zealand
Burial place
Anglican section, Symonds Street Cemetery, Auckland
Spouse
Susan Baillie
​
(m. 1821)​
Military career
Allegiance United Kingdom
Branch
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland British Army
Service years
1804–1851
Rank
Major-General
Units42nd Regiment, 1804
90th Regiment, 1804–
Royal African Corps, 1805–
Royal West India Rangers, 1809–
2nd Provisional Battalion of Militia, 1814–
80th Regiment, 1819–
Conflicts
AwardsKnight of the Royal Hanoverian Guelphic Order
Military General Service Medal with 4 clasps

Major-General George Dean Pitt KH (1781 or 1772 – 8 January 1851) was Lieutenant-Governor of the former New Zealand Province of New Ulster from 14 February 1848 to his death on 8 January 1851.

Early life

He was born George Dean, the illegitimate son of George Pitt, 2nd Baron Rivers.[citation needed] In 1819 he adopted the surname Dean Pitt by Royal Licence.[citation needed]

Major Dean Pitt was stationed at Malta with the 80th Regiment of Foot (Staffordshire Volunteers) from January to September 1828.

Arrival in New Zealand

Dean Pitt arrived with his family on the barque Minerva at Auckland on 8 October 1847. He was the second most important military man in the new colony during the governorship of George Grey. His son and two of his sons-in-law were part of the military establishment as well. His residence was located in Pitt Street, which had originally been called Pyt Street after a childhood home of the first governor William Hobson, it is likely the spelling changed because of Dean Pitt's presence.

Ill for some time, he died on 8 January 1851 while Lieutenant-Governor and was buried with full military honours in the Symonds Street Cemetery in Auckland. A number of retail businesses in Auckland closed for the day of his funeral.

Personal life

He married Susan Baillie at St James' Church, Bristol, England, on 21 May 1818.

Children

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 WO 25/800/153: Folio 303. Statement of Services of Lieut. Col. Geo. Dean Pitt of the 80th Regiment of Foot with a Record of such Particulars as may be useful in case of his Death, The National Archives, pp. 302–304
  2. ↑ "Death of His Excellency Lieutenant-Governor Pitt". The New-Zealander. Vol. 7, no. 495. 11 January 1851. p. 2.
  3. 1 2 Hart, Henry George (1850). The New Army List for 1850. Vol. 11. London: John Murray. pp. 4, 16, 29b, 232.
  4. 1 2 List of Leaders of former New Zealand Provinces
  5. 1 2 "Arrivals on the Minerva 1847". Archived from the original on 27 October 2009. Retrieved 5 October 2007.
  6. ↑ "Cemetery Record for William Augustus Dean Pitt". Auckland Libraries. Auckland Council. Retrieved 9 May 2024.
  7. ↑ "The British Army Garrison in Malta. 1828–1865". Archived from the original on 29 May 2007. Retrieved 5 October 2007.
  8. ↑ "Major General George Dean Pitt". Karangahape Road. Karangahape Road Business Association. Retrieved 4 October 2020.[permanent dead link]
  9. 1 2 3 Marriages mentioned in The New Zealander 1843–1890