Thomas Buick was born in Oamaru. Between 1890 and 1896 he was the member of Parliament for Wairau (Marlborough)
Although largely self-educated he was an able and intelligent man, best known for his historical writing. He produced a series of local histories and a biography of Te Rauparaha before publishing his best known and most important book, The Treaty of Waitangi, in 1914. This helped re-establish the Treaty of Waitangi as New Zealand's most important historical document. According to Buick the Treaty was 'the foundation of our nationhood'. He died in 1938.