William Miles Maskell
William Miles Maskell (5 October 1839 – 1 May 1898) was a New Zealand farmer, politician and entomologist.
Born in Mapperton, Dorset, England to Mary Scott and William Maskell, an Anglican clergyman, he attended school at St Mary's College in Oscott, Birmingham, and later in Paris, before being commissioned an ensign in the 11th Regiment of Foot with which he served for just under two years.
He first came to New Zealand, in Lyttelton, in 1860 and eventually became involved in the political campaigns of Frederick Weld and Charles Clifford. He returned to England sometime between 1861 and 1863, but returned by September 1865, purchasing a 2,000-acre (8.1 km2) property in Broadleaze near Leithfield, Canterbury a short while after.
He became registrar of the newly formed University of New Zealand in 1876 and held this position until his death.
Maskell was married to Lydia Cooper Brown on 15 September 1874 in two ceremonies, one Catholic and one Protestant. After Lydia's death in 1883, he married Alice Ann McClean in 1886.
In 1866, Maskell was elected to represent Sefton on the Canterbury Provincial Council, a position which he held until the provinces were abolished in 1876. He also served as provincial secretary and treasurer during the last year on the Council.
Maskell contested the Ashley electorate twice for a seat in the New Zealand parliament. On both occasions, first in the 1871 general election, and then in the 1876 general election, he was unsuccessful against John Evans Brown. After this, he took no further active part in politics.
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