Thomas Jackson (1 September 1812 – 18 March 1886), was an English Anglican clergyman appointed in 1850 as Bishop Designate of the newly founded settlement of Lyttelton in New Zealand.

[1][2] In 1844, aged 32, Jackson was appointed Principal of St John's Training College for teachers at Battersea.

At the time, it was envisaged that the principal town in the new settlement would be Lyttelton, not Christchurch which eventually did become the main locality.

He was named to the position in June 1850 and from that time until he sailed for New Zealand in September of that same year he addressed many meetings on behalf of the Canterbury Association, which was promoting immigration.

It was determined that the Diocese of Lyttelton should include all of the South Island, whereas Dr. Selwyn wished to resign from only the Canterbury Settlement and Otago.

In view of these irregularities, Jackson undertook to visit New Zealand and discuss the matter with Selwyn; he arrived in Lyttelton on 7 February 1851 on the Castle Eden.

It appears that he also wished to be consecrated Bishop by the highest Church authority to ensure his position.

The sail each way was around one hundred days, and Jackson's wife, Elizabeth, who travelled out with him to New Zealand, did not wish to follow him on his visit to the Archbishop of Canterbury.

Jackson was only in Canterbury (New Zealand) for six weeks but he was very active in church matters, and travelled extensively during that time.