Charles Button

Article summary

Charles Edward Button (23 August 1838 – 27 December 1920) was a solicitor, Supreme Court judge, Mayor of Hokitika and later Birkenhead, and an independent conservative Member of Parliament in New Zealand. Born in Tasmania, he came to New Zealand with his wife in 1863. He first lived in Invercargill, then in Westland, and after a brief period in Christchurch, he settled in Auckland. He was an MP for two periods, and when he was first elected to Parliament, he beat his colleague, friend, political opponent, and later Premier Richard Seddon; this was the only election defeat ever suffered by Seddon.

Key claims

1. date of birth: 1863 — source: Wikipedia · confidence 0.95
2. date of birth: 1838 — source: Wikipedia · confidence 0.95
3. date of death: 1920-12-27 — source: Wikipedia · confidence 0.95
4. date of death: 1910 — source: Wikipedia · confidence 0.95
5. date of formation: 1888 — source: Wikipedia · confidence 0.95

Discussion questions

1. Summarise the article in your own words. Which single claim would you verify first, and why?
2. The record states that the date of birth is "1863". What evidence would count against this claim?
3. The record states that the date of birth is "1838". What evidence would count against this claim?
4. The record states that the date of death is "1920-12-27". What evidence would count against this claim?
5. The record states that the date of death is "1910". What evidence would count against this claim?
6. The record states that the date of formation is "1888". What evidence would count against this claim?
7. Which claim in this article is most likely to be revised as the sources update? How would you check its current status?
8. If two sources disagreed about one of these facts, what would you need in order to trust one over the other?

Bibliography

1. Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1361861625