Douglas, Sir James

(1803-1877)

   MS A man of Imperial mind, 225; highest qualities as administrator, 225; with Dr. McLoughlin, 225; marries daughter of William Connolly, 225; chief factor, 1840, 226; governor of Vancouver Island, 1851, 225; knighted, 225; receives Simpson at Fort St. James, 238. D Visits Etoline, Russian governor, 1842, 45-46; in New Caledonia, 59-60; character, 84-91; dearth of documentary material for his life, 90; born Demerara, Aug. 15, 1803, 91; parentage, 92; educated in Scotland, 92-93; sails for Canada, 1820, and enters service of North West Company, 93; meets John McLoughlin at Fort William, 93; McLoughlin persuades him to join Hudson's Bay Company, 94; accompanies McLoughlin to Columbia department, 94; McLoughlin's friendship for Douglas, 94; his training under McLoughlin, 96; sent to New Caledonia, 96; accompanies William Connolly over mountains, 99; with Connolly at Fort St. James, 100; with John Tod at McLeod Lake, 100; his activities there, 100-102; marries Amelia Connolly, 103; transferred to Fort Vancouver, 1830, 103-110; family life there, 103; eldest daughter marries Dallas, afterwards governor of Hudson's Bay Company at Winnipeg, 103; his work in New Caledonia, 104; his connection with Fort George massacre, 105-109; receives Sir George Simpson at Fort St. James, 109; at Fort Vancouver, 110; revises system of accounting at Fort Vancouver, 121; in charge of York Factory express, 1835, 121; in charge of party that raised British flag above Fort Stikine, 1840, 121-122; builds Fort Durham, 122; sent to dismantle Fort Durham, 122; moves Fort McLoughlin to head of Vancouver Island, 122; sent to treat with Mexican governor, 1840, 126-127; succeeds McLoughlin as manager of Puget Sound Agricultural Company, 132; severs his connection, 1859, on accepting governorship of Vancouver Island and British Columbia, 132; becomes chief trader, 1852, 135; chief factor, 1840, 133; founds Victoria, 1843, 146; examines site for fort on Vancouver Island, 176; commands expedition charged with the building of the fort, 177; selects site, 178; proceeds next to dismantle Forts Taku and McLoughlin, 178; brings Bolduc, first missionary, to Vancouver Island, 178; completes Fort Camosun (Victoria), 179; returns to Fort Vancouver, 180; associated with McLoughlin and Ogden on board of management of western department, 187; succeeds McLoughlin in charge of western department, 1846, 187; succeeds Blanshard as governor of Vancouver Island, 205; dual position of Hudson's Bay Company officer and representative of crown, 207; establishes representative government, 1856, 208-210; his inaugural speech, 211-215; reports gold on Queen Charlotte Island, 220; issues gold-mining licenses, 221; reports gold discoveries on Upper Columbia, etc., 223; difficulties with the miners, 227; visits the camps, 227-228; appointed governor of British Columbia, 229; retires from Hudson's Bay Company, 229-230; full powers of government given him under instructions of colonial secretary, 1858, 231; Sir Edward Bulwer Lytton's opinion of him, 234-235; his administration of the government, 236; appoints provincial officers, 240-241; second visit to the mining camps, 243-245; proposes Queensborough as name of capital of British Columbia, 247; settles Hill's Bar affair, 248; builds roads, 249-253; 257; his resourcefulness, 249-250; plans for a transcontinental road, 253-254; financial problems, 258-262; charged with extravagance, 261; his prejudice in favour of Hudson's Bay Company, 263; defends their policy, 264-265; justice to the natives, 267; recommends church endowments, 270-271; conflict with Assembly over site of public buildings, 272-273; governorship of Vancouver Island ends, 1863,--knighthood,--succeeded by Arthur Kennedy,--retires from governorship of mainland of British Columbia, 1864, 289; advocates union of British Columbia and Vancouver Island, 295; public appreciation of his rule as governor, 304; leaves British Columbia and sails for Europe, 308-309; his personal side, 309; death, Aug. 1, 1877, 310; wife dies, 1891, 310; his character and achievements as man, fur trader, and statesman, 342-354; compared with McLoughlin, 351-353; personal appearance, 350-351.

   Bib.: Morgan, Cel. Can.; Dent, Can. Por.; Cyc. Am. Biog.; Bancroft, History of British Columbia; Begg, History of British Columbia.