Sir James Douglas

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.

Douglas, natif de Demerara, est considéré comme le «père de la Colombie- Britannique». Au service de la Compagnie de la Baie d’Hudson, il obtint de rapides promotions et, en1845, devint membre de la Commission du district de Columbia. Agent de la compagnie à l’île Vancouver en 1849, il devint gouverneur de la colonie deux ans plus tard. Sa clairvoyance et sa fermeté, surtout à l’époque de la ruée vers l’or de 1858, assurèrent la paix et l’ordre et lui valurent d’être nommé gouverneur de la colonie de la Colombie-Britannique, fondée cette même année. Il mourut à Victoria.