A man of many parts: Isaac ‘Petatone’ Featherston

It was fascinating to hear John E. Martin discuss the career of Isaac ‘Petatone’ Featherston on March 10th.

A doctor, newspaper editor, Provincial Representative and a man central to land purchasing in the 1860s. We learned how a ship’s surgeon, as Featherston became in 1841, was not only responsible for the health of the passengers but also for discipline. Once in Wellington, Featherston was a great advocate for Wellington against the central government, then situated in Auckland. Featherston also led kūpapa in the fight to take control of the Taranaki area. He was indeed, as John’s subtitle suggested, ‘a man of many parts.’