The Blue Plaque Trail: William Hobson

William Hobson was born in Waterford the son of Samuel Hobson in 1793. He joined the Royal Navy in 1803, serving during the Napoleonic wars and was later involved in the suppression of piracy in the Caribbean. He was promoted Commander in 1824, going on to serve in the Pacific and Indian Oceans. In 1837 he sailed to New Zealand in response to a request for help from James Busby the British Resident, who felt threatened by wars between Maori tribes. In 1840 William Hobson returned to New Zealand as its first Governor but died shortly after his arrival, on 10 September 1842 and is buried in the Symonds Street Cemetery in Auckland.

Waterford Civic Trust has installed numerous Blue Plaques in the city to commemorate a link between a particular location and a famous person or event.