Mary Jane Bennett
New Zealand's first women lighthouse keeper
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
changeMary 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- ↑ 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.