James Coates (1815 – 1 July 1854) was the first Clerk of the New Zealand House of Representatives. He came to New Zealand as private secretary to William Hobson, the first Governor of New Zealand. In 1851 Governor Hobson appointed Coates as Clerk of Councils. He became Clerk of the House of Representatives when it assembled for the first time on 24 May 1854; his appointment was moved by Samuel Revans. Five weeks later, on 1 July, he died in office at the age of 39. The death occurred at his residence in Eden Crescent in the Auckland CBD. His son Sir James Hugh Buchanan Coates (who was not quite three at the time of his father's death) grew up to be a prominent banker and sportsman.
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