landowner and statesman who served three times as prime minister of New Zealand (1856–61, 1865–69, 1872).

The son of a landed Irish family, Stafford began farming sheep in New Zealand (1843), was elected superintendent of Nelson province (1853) and representative from Nelson to the General Assembly (1855), and formed his first ministry in 1856. During this five-year term as premier, Stafford negotiated financial settlements between the British government, the New Zealand Company, and the provinces. He also secured the passage of legislation that created three new provinces out of the existing ones, thus weakening and diffusing the provinces' power. Stafford's next ministry (1865–69) was primarily concerned with the problem of New Zealand's dependence on British troops during a flareup of hostilities with the Maoris. Stafford wished to retain the troops, but popular opposition to the financial burden of their maintenance resulted in the fall of his ministry. Stafford's third ministry lasted less than a month (Sept. 6 to Oct. 4, 1872), but he remained a member of the House during the “continuous ministry” of Sir Julius Vogel as a strong advocate of the abolition of the provinces (1875). He retired from politics, returned to England (1878), and was knighted in 1879.