coatee - Lieutenant-Colonel - 58th (Rutlandshire) Regiment of Foot, circa 1850s, NZ Wars Part of uniform of Lieutenant Colonel Robert H Wynyard, Officer Commanding, 58th Regiment Robert Henry Wynyard (1802-1864) Born into a family noted for its military traditions Robert Wynyard joined the 85th Regiment as an ensign in 1819. Nine years of service in England was followed by over a decade in Ireland working in the office of the Adjutant-General. On his return to England in 1842 Wynyard was appointed officer commanding the 58th Regiment with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. In 1845 the regiment was sent to Australia but on arrival in Sydney embarked almost immediately for the Bay of Islands. Wynyard was senior officer of the Regiment during the Northern Wars against Hone Heke. He was in New Zealand almost continuously (with six months back in Australia during 1846-7) until the regiment was recalled to England in 1858. During this time he became Commander of the Military Forces in New Zealand (1851-1858), and played a significant role in the New Zealand government (Lieutenant-Governor of New Ulster 1851-1853, Superintendent of Auckland Province 1853-1855), Acting Governor of New Zealand (1854-1855) and in this role opened New Zealand’s first parliament. At the time of his retirement in 1863 Wynyard was Colonel of the 98th Regiment and retired with the rank of Lieutenant-General. Following his death in 1864 his widow returned to Auckland where she remained until her death in 1881.

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