King, Martha (1802/03–1897)

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King, Martha (1802/03–1897)

New Zealand schoolteacher, gardener, and botanical artist. Born Martha King, c. 1802 or 1803, in Ireland; died May 31, 1897, in New Plymouth, New Zealand; sister of Maria King and Samuel Popham King.

Immigrated with brother and sister to New Zealand (1840); settled in Wanganui and opened 1st dame school there (1841), and in New Plymouth (1848); commissioned to prepare drawings of indigenous botanical specimens, which were published as plates in Edward Wakefield's Illustrations to "Adventure in New Zealand" (1845); donated her garden to New Plymouth Recreation Grounds Board; work held in Alexander Turnbull Library.

See also Dictionary of New Zealand Biography (Vol. 1).

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