He took an interest in Edward Gibbon Wakefield's ideas on colonisation and came to Wellington, New Zealand, in 1840 on the London as a cabin passenger.

[8] Brandon was again successful and received 208 votes versus 141 for Gillon, with Wallace a distant last.

[9] Brandon won the 1879 election and at the end of the parliamentary term in 1881, he retired from politics.

[2] His wife died in December 1842 and was buried at the original St Paul's Church, located just behind the present Beehive.

[12] She left him an infant son, Eustace Brandon, who became a notable artist.

[14] Brandon's house near Bulls, Brandon Hall Homestead, was registered by the New Zealand Historic Places Trust (now Heritage New Zealand) in 2005 as a Category II heritage structure.