and telegraph offices. He designed many public buildings in Wellington, including the old Government House and Parliament buildings, but he is best known for designing the Old Government Buildings in Wellington, then part of the New Zealand Parliament Buildings and the second-largest wooden building in the world (behind Tōdai-ji in Nara, Japan). An important design in Christchurch is the Chief Post Office in Cathedral Square, a Category I heritage building. Death In 1877 Clayton travelled south to Christchurch and Dunedin to value the buildings of the former old provincial councils. While in Dunedin an old ankle injury gave trouble and an abscess developed which became so infected that Dr Thomas Hocken who was attending him, strongly advised amputation. Seven days after his foot was amputated Clayton died of exhaustion at 4am on 23 August 1877. He was buried in block 116 plot 12 in Dunedin's Northern cemetery the following day. His wife who was in England visiting their daughter Mary Vogel at the time of his death returned to New Zealand to settle her husband's estate and then returned to London where she spent the rest of her life. Following Clayton's death, his chief draughtsman Pierre Finch Martineau Burrows took over running of the office, though he was never appointed to the position of Colonial Architect. Personal life Clayton married Emily Mary Samson on 7 October 1847 in Clapham, Surrey. William and Mary had the following children: Mary “Polly” Clayton (18 February 1849 - 12 August 1933). On 19 March 1867 she married her parents' neighbour Julius Vogel. Frances Clayton (born in about 1852). Married Montagu Charles Lamb Pym in 1875. George Clayton (1853- ). William Henry Clayton (17 July 1857- ). Kate Emily Clayton (27 January 1860- ). Married Alfred Nathan. Leonard Clayton (1862- ). Herbert Mason Clayton (5 December 1864- ). Born in Dunedin. Memorials The William Clayton Building at 133 Molesworth Street in Wellington was originally named after him. Designed by the Government Architect for the Government Office Accommodation Board, it opened in 1983. It has subsequently been renamed. Works Among the buildings which Clayton personally designed, collaborated on or supervised the design of are: References Further reading External links Clayton William. 1823 births 1877 deaths People from Tasmania New Zealand public servants 19th-century New Zealand architects Burials at Dunedin Northern Cemetery