(1870–1943).

Newspaper proprietor.

A son of A. G. Horton, one of the early proprietors of the New Zealand Herald, Henry Horton was born on 14 May 1870, and was educated at Christ's College, Christchurch, and Auckland University College, graduating B.A. in 1892. Through the deaths of his father and the other two partners within a matter of months, he became in 1903 the executive head of the business, which he directed for the remainder of his life. Horton was active for many years in the Newspaper Proprietors' Association and the Empire Press Union. He was a member of the latter's New Zealand executive for over 30 years and was chairman from 1930 to 1942. He was knighted in 1935. Horton served on the executive of the Auckland Provincial Patriotic Association during the whole 26 years of its existence, from 1915 until it was wound up in 1942. He was a Government representative on the Auckland University College Council, 1931–38, and a member of the commandery of the Venerable Order of St. John. For 38 years he was a director of the New Zealand Insurance Co., and was chairman for three terms totalling four years. He was also for a long period a New Zealand director of the Colonial Sugar Refining Co. Through the newspapers which he controlled, Horton did much to promote the development of the Auckland Province, especially in road and rail communications and the utilisation of pumice lands.

In 1897, at Waiheke Island, Horton married Jessie Buchanan Thomson by whom he had two sons. He died on 19 July 1943.

by Alfred Fearon Grace, Journalist, Auckland.

• New Zealand Herald, 20 Jul 1943 (Obit).