Benjamin Crisp

Benjamin Crisp (c. 11 May 1808 – 2 September 1901) was a New Zealand temperance advocate.

Crisp was born in London on or about 11 May 1808; his parents were Benjamin Crisp, a tinsmith, and his wife, Sophia.^[1]

In 1819, when he was 11, he travelled to Hobart.^[2] After living in Hobart, Adelaide, and Sydney^[2] and working as a whaler, a farm worker, and a bullock driver, in 1837 he left Australia for New Zealand, where he again worked as a whaler and then became a boatman at Port Nicholson.^[1][2] In 1842 he moved to Port Nelson, where he went into business with Sam Phelps, using a bullock cart to carry immigrants' luggage into town from the port. The two earned enough to work only in the mornings; they spent the afternoons drinking, then slept off the effects under the cart. On one occasion Crisp was so drunk, he walked off the wharf thinking he was on a bridge.^[1] Crisp was one of the earliest settlers in Nelson and trained the first pair of bullocks used as draught animals in the area. He was later employed as a carter by local businesses.^[2]

Alfred Saunders, the founder of the Nelson Temperance Society, preached temperance from Phelps' and Crisp's cart on Sundays. In June 1843, Crisp decided to renounce alcohol and visited Saunders at 4 a.m. to sign the temperance pledge. He became an important spokesperson for the movement, founded a Band of Hope for the local children that drew 500 to welcome important visitors to Nelson, and organised a popular annual children's event on Queen Victoria's birthday.^[1] He also taught Sunday school at the Wesleyan church.^[1][2]

On the Queen's Diamond Jubilee in 1887, Crisp was awarded a gold medal and 60 sovereigns.^[1][3]

Crisp married Elizabeth Burnett on 14 December 1846; they had five sons and five daughters, whom Crisp brought to temperance meetings to display how they were thriving in a sober home.^[1] He died in Nelson on 2 September 1901, aged 93, after injuring his back in a fall,^[2] and was given a public funeral. His headstone is inscribed: "Erected by the Nelson citizens in memory of Ben Crisp who was the children's friend".^[1][4]