Mary Jane Bennett
Mary Jane Bennett (1816 to 6 July 1885) was the first official lighthouse keeper in New Zealand, and the only woman to have the position.
Personal life
[change | change source]Mary moved to New Zealand in 1840. She soon married George White Bennett. In 1852 George took the position of lighthouse keeper at Pencarrow Head.[1] Following the death of her husband in 1855, Mary worked at the lighthouse. In January 1859 a good lighthouse building was made. She was selected as keeper.[2] Pencarrow Lighthouse was the first permanent lighthouse in New Zealand.
References
[change | change source]- ↑ Ministry for Culture and Heritage. "Mary Bennett". Archived from the original on 23 May 2010. Retrieved 24 April 2011.
- ↑ Ellis, Ellen. "Bennett, Mary Jane". Te Ara Dictionary of New Zealand Biography. Retrieved 24 April 2011.