Thomas Forsaith

Thomas Spencer Forsaith (1814 - 1898) was a New Zealand politician and an Auckland draper. According to some historians, he was the country's second Premier, although a more conventional view states that neither he nor his predecessor (James FitzGerald) should properly be given that title.

Forsaith was elected to the 1st New Zealand Parliament as the representative of the Northern Division, an electorate which covered the area north of Auckland but south of Whangarei, and served from 1853 to 1855, when he was defeated. Forsaith was invited to form a ministry in August 1855, when the Administrator Robert Wynyard (acting in place of Governor) prorogued the parliament. Wynyard had taken this action after Parliament refused to accept his claim that New Zealand responsible government was not possible without royal assent. Forsaith, a member of the minority which supported Wynyard, was joined in Cabinet by James Macandrew, William Travers, and Edward Jerningham Wakefield. This appointed Cabinet, which did not have the confidence of Parliament, was defeated almost immediately, lasting only from 31 August to 2 September 1854.

No new Cabinet was formed until the 2nd New Zealand Parliament, under which responsible government was obtained. Forsaith himself served through the 2nd Parliament as representative of the City of Auckland from 1858 to 1860, but never served in Cabinet again.