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Story: Cartooning

Seddon as commander-in-chief, 1902

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Seddon as commander-in-chief, 1902

This 1902 Fred Hiscocks cartoon makes fun of Richard 'King Dick' Seddon's domineering personality and love of imperial pomp and show. Seddon's larger-than-life personality was a godsend for cartoonists. A keen supporter of the British Empire, he was prone to giving British political and military leaders unwanted advice. Seddon was often portrayed with a medal bearing the initials PC, symbolising his appointment as a privy councillor, of which he was very proud.

Using this item

Alexander Turnbull Library

Reference: PUBL-0201-038

by Ercildoune Frederick Hiscocks

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page

Ian F. Grant, Cartooning – Cartooning in a new land, 1840 to 1899, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/cartoon/41727/seddon-as-commander-in-chief-1902 (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Ian F. Grant, published 20 May 2013.