Edward Gibbon Wakefield

Edward Gibbon Wakefield (1796–1862) was a British politician and colonization reformer who shaped modern ideas of colonization and urban development. He believed that responsible colonization could be achieved through systematic planning, including the sale of land to fund infrastructure and immigration. His ideas emphasized orderly growth and social engineering, influencing the development of colonies like New Zealand and South Australia. Despite controversy over his methods, Wakefield’s concepts contributed significantly to urban planning, land policy, and the formation of modern settler societies.