George Harper

Sir George Harper was an English-born New Zealand lawyer. From a large family, he was a son of the inaugural bishop of Christchurch, Henry Harper, and he arrived in Christchurch in 1858 at age 15, two years after his father. He completed his education in Christchurch and farmed for a few years before commencing law. Embroiled in an embezzlement case by his brother Leonard, he was bankrupted and removed from the bar for five years. After readmission, he set up his own practice. Like his parents, he had a large family; three of his boys were killed in World War I. Harper was involved in a number of community initiatives, clubs and societies, and was knighted shortly before his death. He died aged 93 and had outlived his wife and most of his children.