Thomas grew up in a household where botany was a common interest. His father George was a nurseryman and his mother Sarah (born West) was both a nurserywoman and a florist. He showed an interest in botany and for a time worked as a nurseryman himself. He later worked in a Coventry timber mill. Thomas married Sarah Mattocks (see previous story) in 1850. Due to poor health and financial problems they emigrated to New Zealand in 1863.
On arrival, Thomas began collecting botanical specimens. He eventually found employment as a surveyor and then in 1868 became a meteorological observer in Auckland. He was also appointed museum curator of the Auckland Institute. In what spare time he had, he taught botany at the Auckland College and Grammar School.
In 1874, the Kirk family moved to Wellington and Thomas became a teacher at Wellington College, lecturing in natural sciences. Sir Julius Vogel credited Thomas in helping to get the first Forestry Act passed in 1874. In 1881 he was appointed lecturer in natural science at Lincoln School of Agriculture. He retained this position until 1884 and while living in Canterbury, he botanised in Arthur’s Pass, Banks Peninsula, Lake Wakatipu and Stewart Island.
In 1884, the New Zealand government commissioned Thomas to compile a report on the indigenous forests of the country and appointed him as chief conservator of forests in 1885. He was instrumental in setting aside 800,000 acres as forest reserves by 1888.
Thomas was described as a kindly, gracious man with firm Christian convictions. He was a founding member of the Wellington Baptist Church. Thomas died in straitened circumstances of pleural abscess on 8th March 1898. He was 70 years old. He was survived by his wife Sarah and five of his nine children. His son Thomas William Kirk became a botanist. Another son, Harry Borrer Kirk, became a biologist. Two buildings at Victoria University are named after Harry: the Kirk Building and the Old Kirk Building.
Plot: *Public/K/3
By Julia Kennedy
References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Kirk_(botanist)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_Kirk_(biologist)
https://teara.govt.nz/en/biographies/2k10/kirk-thomas
