Mary Jane Bennett

Mary Jane Bennett née Hebden (1816 to 6 Jul 1885) was the first official lighthouse keeper in New Zealand, and the only woman to ever hold the role .

Mary emigrated to New Zealand in 1840 and was soon married to George White Bennett. In 1852 George took the position of lighthouse keeper at Pencarrow Head.^[1] Following the death of her husband in 1855, Mary continued to operate the lighthouse. In January 1859 a proper lighthouse was built and she was officially appointed as keeper.^[2] Pencarrow Lighthouse was the first permanent lighthouse in New Zealand.

References

1. ^ Ministry for Culture and Heritage. "Mary Bennett". http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/people/mary-bennett. Retrieved 24 April 2011. 
2. ^ Ellis, Ellen. "Bennett, Mary Jane". Te Ara Dictionary of New Zealand Biography. http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/biographies/1b18/1. Retrieved 24 April 2011. 

Persondata
Name	Bennett, Mary Jane
Alternative names	Mary Bennett, Mary Jane Hebden
Short description
Date of birth	1816
Place of birth	Yorkshire, England
Date of death	6 Jul 1885
Place of death