James Douglas - Colonial Governor on Vancouver Island (now British Columbia), Birthday and Family
James Douglas's Personal Details
Sir James Douglas was a British Colonial Governor of Vancouver Island and British Columbia
| Information | Detail |
|---|---|
| Birthday | August 15, 1803 |
| Died on | August 2, 1877 |
| Nationality | British |
| Famous | Leaders, Political Leaders, Colonial Governor on Vancouver Island (now British Columbia) |
| Spouses | Amelia Connolly |
| Childrens | Cecilia |
| Birth Place | Demerara |
| Gender | Male |
| Father | John Douglas |
| Mother | Martha Ann Tefler, or |
| Sun Sign | Leo |
| Born in | Demerara |
| Famous as | British colonial governor on Vancouver Island (now British Columbia) |
| Died at Age | 73 |
James Douglas's photo
Who is James Douglas?
James Douglas began his career working with the fur trading ‘North West Company’, and with the ‘Hudson’s Bay Company’. He quickly rose to the position of Chief Factor. He commissioned the construction of many forts, and developed a sympathetic attitude towards the Native Indians. However, his personal views often clashed with the interests of the company, and subsequently with those of the Crown. He denounced slavery. He became the Governor of Vancouver Island. His tenure saw the creation of Victoria Voltigeurs, Vancouver Island’s first private army to protect the territory from the U.S. He administered the Island firmly and efficiently. He realized that if the uncontrolled rush of Americans continued to the Fraser River region, following the discovery of gold, the territory of British Columbia would be lost to the Americans. So, he stationed a warship at the mouth of the river, and issued licenses to prospectors and merchants. With the creation of the colony of British Columbia, he was appointed its Governor too. His achievements include the construction of the Legislative Buildings for the Colony of Vancouver Island, the construction of the Cariboo Road, improvements in the Esquimalt harbor, and acquisition of land from Native Indians. For his services, he was knighted by Queen Victoria. He is regarded as the Father of British Columbia.
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Childhood & Early Life
James Douglas was born to John Douglas, a Scottish planter, and Martha Ann Tefler, a free person of mixed European and African ancestry. They had many children together but were not formally married.
In 1812, James was sent to Lanark, Scotland, for schooling. Later, he went to school in Chester, England, where he learned to speak and write in fluent French.
Career and Later Life
In 1819, 16-year-old James Douglas joined the North West Company’s fur trade, and moved from Liverpool to Lachine, Lower Canada. For a year, he was stationed at Fort William, Ontario, as a clerk.
He was transferred to �le-�-la-Crosse on the Churchill River in northern Saskatchewan in 1820. There, ‘The Hudson’s Bay Company’ (HBC), a powerful competitor, was also active, and minor armed skirmishes were common.
He began acquiring knowledge by reading books brought over from Britain. He developed warm relations with the various Aboriginal people, or the First Nations people who were neither Inuit nor M�tis, in Canada.
In 1821, the rivalry between the companies ended with the merger of the North West Company and the Hudson’s Bay Company. Douglas became an employee of the HBC, and was rapidly promoted in the company.
In 1827, he established Fort Connolly on Bear Lake. He made a very good impression on William Connolly, his superior, with his skills, and they got along very well.
His relationship with the First Nations received a setback in 1828, after he shot dead a native for murdering two Hudson’s Bay traders. Fearing for his life, Connolly had him transferred to Fort Vancouver.
He served for 19 years in Fort Vancouver in the Company’s Columbia District, as Chief Accountant. In 1834, he was promoted to the key position of Chief Trader.
In 1840, he became the Chief Factor, the highest rank for field service with the HBC. He visited California, and received permission to create a trading post in San Francisco from its Mexican administrator.
Douglas founded Fort Victoria, which proved invaluable when, in 1846, the Oregon Treaty extended the British North America/United States’ border along the 49th parallel, from the Rocky Mountains to the Strait of Georgia.
In 1849, when Britain leased Vancouver Island to the HBC on the condition that a colony was to be created, Douglas moved the headquarters from Fort Vancouver to Fort Victoria.
In 1851, the British Government appointed Douglas as the Governor of Vancouver Island. To counter the expansionist pressures of the United States of America, he created the Victoria Voltigeurs, Vancouver Island’s first private army.
His governorship saw the creation of public elementary schools, alcohol control, and the construction of the Victoria District Church. He also established an elected Legislative Assembly which later opposed him on several issues.
In 1856, gold was discovered in the Fraser River. To exert British jurisdiction over the territory, he stationed a warship at the mouth of the river, and issued licences to prospectors and merchants.
In 1858, the British Parliament created the Colony of British Columbia, and appointed him as Governor. He continued his service as Governor of Vancouver Island. He resigned his position with the HBC.
The Legislative Buildings for the Colony of Vancouver Island nicknamed ‘The Birdcages’, due to their old-fashioned style, were officially opened in 1860. Their architect was H.O. Tiedemann.
The British government entrusted James Douglas with the construction of a hospital at Esquimalt harbor, and to improve harbor capacity. The area became crucial in 1865, when the North Pacific Squadron headquartered at Vancouver Island.
Major Works
Between 1850 and 1854, James Douglas negotiated treaties with the Native American tribes and acquired fourteen parcels of land for the Crown from them, totaling 570 sq. km., in return for paltry compensation.
In 1862, when the Cariboo Gold Rush began, he ordered the construction of the Cariboo Road, running 400 miles from Fort Yale to the gold fields of Barkerville, in three years’ time.
Awards & Achievements
In 1858, James Douglas was appointed ‘Commander of the Order of the Bath’ in recognition of his service as Governor of Vancouver Island. On retirement, Queen Victoria promoted him to ‘Knight Commander’.
Personal Life & Legacy
In 1828, James Douglas married Amelia Connolly, the daughter of New Caledonia’s Chief Factor, William Connolly. The couple had thirteen children, only seven of whom survived to reach adulthood.
He died in Victoria at the age of 73. His funeral procession was possibly the largest in the history of British Columbia, and he was interred in the Ross Bay Cemetery.
Many roads, schools and natural landmarks have been named after him. ‘Sir James Douglas Elementary School’ was built in Victoria, in 1910, on the property that used to be Sir James Douglas’ farm.
Trivia
One of the pioneering personalities in British Columbia history, he became the second Governor of Vancouver Island, taking over from Richard Blanshard. Frederick Seymour replaced him as Governor of British Columbia.
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James Douglas's awards
| Year | Name | Award |
|---|---|---|
Other | ||
| 0 | 1858 - Order of the Bath in recognition of his service as Governor of Vancouver Island | |
James Douglas biography timelines
- // 15th Aug 1803James Douglas was born to John Douglas, a Scottish planter, and Martha Ann Tefler, a free person of mixed European and African ancestry. They had many children together but were not formally married.
- // 1812In 1812, James was sent to Lanark, Scotland, for schooling. Later, he went to school in Chester, England, where he learned to speak and write in fluent French.
- // 1819In 1819, 16-year-old James Douglas joined the North West Company’s fur trade, and moved from Liverpool to Lachine, Lower Canada. For a year, he was stationed at Fort William, Ontario, as a clerk.
- // 1820He was transferred to �le-�-la-Crosse on the Churchill River in northern Saskatchewan in 1820. There, ‘The Hudson’s Bay Company’ (HBC), a powerful competitor, was also active, and minor armed skirmishes were common.
- // 1821In 1821, the rivalry between the companies ended with the merger of the North West Company and the Hudson’s Bay Company. Douglas became an employee of the HBC, and was rapidly promoted in the company.
- // 1827In 1827, he established Fort Connolly on Bear Lake. He made a very good impression on William Connolly, his superior, with his skills, and they got along very well.
- // 1828His relationship with the First Nations received a setback in 1828, after he shot dead a native for murdering two Hudson’s Bay traders. Fearing for his life, Connolly had him transferred to Fort Vancouver.
- // 1828In 1828, James Douglas married Amelia Connolly, the daughter of New Caledonia’s Chief Factor, William Connolly. The couple had thirteen children, only seven of whom survived to reach adulthood.
- // 1834He served for 19 years in Fort Vancouver in the Company’s Columbia District, as Chief Accountant. In 1834, he was promoted to the key position of Chief Trader.
- // 1840In 1840, he became the Chief Factor, the highest rank for field service with the HBC. He visited California, and received permission to create a trading post in San Francisco from its Mexican administrator.
- // 1846Douglas founded Fort Victoria, which proved invaluable when, in 1846, the Oregon Treaty extended the British North America/United States’ border along the 49th parallel, from the Rocky Mountains to the Strait of Georgia.
- // 1849In 1849, when Britain leased Vancouver Island to the HBC on the condition that a colony was to be created, Douglas moved the headquarters from Fort Vancouver to Fort Victoria.
- // 1850 To 1854Between 1850 and 1854, James Douglas negotiated treaties with the Native American tribes and acquired fourteen parcels of land for the Crown from them, totaling 570 sq. km., in return for paltry compensation.
- // 1851In 1851, the British Government appointed Douglas as the Governor of Vancouver Island. To counter the expansionist pressures of the United States of America, he created the Victoria Voltigeurs, Vancouver Island’s first private army.
- // 1856In 1856, gold was discovered in the Fraser River. To exert British jurisdiction over the territory, he stationed a warship at the mouth of the river, and issued licences to prospectors and merchants.
- // 1858In 1858, the British Parliament created the Colony of British Columbia, and appointed him as Governor. He continued his service as Governor of Vancouver Island. He resigned his position with the HBC.
- // 1858In 1858, James Douglas was appointed ‘Commander of the Order of the Bath’ in recognition of his service as Governor of Vancouver Island. On retirement, Queen Victoria promoted him to ‘Knight Commander’.
- // 1860The Legislative Buildings for the Colony of Vancouver Island nicknamed ‘The Birdcages’, due to their old-fashioned style, were officially opened in 1860. Their architect was H.O. Tiedemann.
- // 1862In 1862, when the Cariboo Gold Rush began, he ordered the construction of the Cariboo Road, running 400 miles from Fort Yale to the gold fields of Barkerville, in three years’ time.
- // 1865The British government entrusted James Douglas with the construction of a hospital at Esquimalt harbor, and to improve harbor capacity. The area became crucial in 1865, when the North Pacific Squadron headquartered at Vancouver Island.
- // 2nd Aug 1877He died in Victoria at the age of 73. His funeral procession was possibly the largest in the history of British Columbia, and he was interred in the Ross Bay Cemetery.
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James Douglas's FAQ
What is James Douglas birthday?
James Douglas was born at 1803-08-15
When was James Douglas died?
James Douglas was died at 1877-08-02
Where was James Douglas died?
James Douglas was died in Victoria, British Columbia
Which age was James Douglas died?
James Douglas was died at age 73
Where is James Douglas's birth place?
James Douglas was born in Demerara
What is James Douglas nationalities?
James Douglas's nationalities is British
Who is James Douglas spouses?
James Douglas's spouses is Amelia Connolly
Who is James Douglas childrens?
James Douglas's childrens is Cecilia
Who is James Douglas's father?
James Douglas's father is John Douglas
Who is James Douglas's mother?
James Douglas's mother is Martha Ann Tefler, or
What is James Douglas's sun sign?
James Douglas is Leo
How famous is James Douglas?
James Douglas is famouse as British colonial governor on Vancouver Island (now British Columbia)