Douglas, Sir James National Historic Person
Victoria, British Columbia
Sir James Douglas
(© Bibliothèque et Archives Canada / Library and Archives Canada / C-003316)
Address :
Victoria, British Columbia
Recognition Statute:
Historic Sites and Monuments Act (R.S.C., 1985, c. H-4)
Designation Date:
1944-05-24
Life Date:
1803 to 1877
Other Name(s):
-
Douglas, Sir James
(Designation Name)
Importance:
Governor of Vancouver Island (1851-63), first Governor of British Columbia (1858-64)
Plaque(s)
Existing plaque: Parliament Buildings British Columbia
Justifiably described as "the father of British Columbia", Douglas was born in Demerara. He joined the North West Company in 1819 serving at Fort William and at Ile a la Crosse where he was taken into the Hudson's Bay Company. Rising rapidly in that service he became a member of the Columbia District Board in 1845, company agent at Vancouver Island in 1849 and second Governor of the colony two years later. His firm and wise rule, particularly during the gold rush of 1858, preserved peace and order and led to his appointment as Governor of the colony of British Columbia which was founded in the same year. He died at Victoria.