Dr John Patrick Fitzgerald
Dr John Fitzgerald had been appointed Colonial Surgeon by Governor Hobson, and when New Zealand's first Colonial Hospital opened in Wellington on 15 September, 1847, Dr Fitzgerald was placed in charge. He had arrived in Wellington in 1840. He had became popular with local Maori & learned to speak their language, so that by the time he was appointed to run the new hospital, there was considerable support from the local tribe. The land on which the Hospital was built, was gifted for that purpose by local Maori. Dr Fitzgerald's early success in running the Hospital was offset within a few years by controversy and bitter dispute. Dr John Dorsett, another Colonial Surgeon, took exception to alleged favouritism shown to Catholic patients and publically accused Dr Fitzgerald of gross quakery. However, a Committee of Investigation, headed by Dr Dorsett, failed to substantiate the claims. Dr Fitzgerald remained at the Hospital until, in poor health and denied any holidays, he resigned in 1854.
photograph courtesy Archives New Zealand / Te Whare Tohu Tuhituhinga O Aotearoa

Dr John Patrick Fitzgerald

Dr John Fitzgerald had been appointed Colonial Surgeon by Governor Hobson, and when New Zealand's first Colonial Hospital opened in Wellington on 15 September, 1847, Dr Fitzgerald was placed in charge.
He had arrived in Wellington in 1840. He had became popular with local Maori & learned to speak their language, so that by the time he was appointed to run the new hospital, there was considerable support from the local tribe. The land on which the Hospital was built, was gifted for that purpose by local Maori.

Dr Fitzgerald's early success in running the Hospital was offset within a few years by controversy and bitter dispute. Dr John Dorsett, another Colonial Surgeon, took exception to alleged favouritism shown to Catholic patients and publically accused Dr Fitzgerald of gross quakery. However, a Committee of Investigation, headed by Dr Dorsett, failed to substantiate the claims. Dr Fitzgerald remained at the Hospital until, in poor health and denied any holidays, he resigned in 1854.

photograph courtesy Archives New Zealand / Te Whare Tohu Tuhituhinga O Aotearoa