Samuel Revans is known to have been a native of London but, as was common in the early 19th century, the day, month and even the exact year of his birth have been lost to history.
Revans arrived in New Zealand on the ship Adelaide on 7 March 1840, docking at Wellington Harbour's Port Nicholson.
In 1848, Revans became prominent in the newly formed Wellington Settlers' Constitutional Association, which advocated representative government.
Revans' involvement was briefly interrupted by a sudden business venture – sailing to San Francisco with a cargo of timber and potatoes, which he hoped to sell to participants in the California gold rush.
When this enterprise failed to meet with its expected success, Revans returned to New Zealand, where he and William Mein Smith had established a large station at Huangaroa, near modern Masterton, in Wairarapa.