William Adams (21 March 1811 â 23 July 1884) was a 19th-century Member of Parliament from Marlborough, New Zealand and the first Superintendent of Marlborough Province.
Adams was born in 1811 in Upton, Herefordshire, England. In 1850, he came to New Zealand with his family aboard the Eden, arriving in Nelson. He took up practice as a solicitor and purchased two runs in the Wairau Valley.
He was the first Superintendent of Marlborough Province in 1860, following the separation from the Nelson Province.
He represented the Picton electorate from 1867 to 1868, when he resigned.
On retiring from political life, he returned to practising law, replacing William Travers in the Nelson firm of Travers and Kingdon. The firm's name was changed to Adams and Kingdon.
Adams died on 23 July 1884. He is buried on his homestead Langley Dale on the north bank of the Wairau River. He was survived by his wife and four sons, including Acton Adams.