Identity area
Type of entity
Government
Authorized form of name
Vancouver Island (Colony). Colonial Secretary
Parallel form(s) of name
Standardized form(s) of name according to other rules
Other form(s) of name
- Colonial Secretary
Identifiers for corporate bodies
Description area
Dates of existence
1859-1866
History
The first Colonial Secretary of the Colony of Vancouver Island, William A.G. Young, was appointed by Governor James Douglas in 1859. Prior to that, the affairs of the colony were also the affairs of the Hudson’s Bay Company and were administered by the chief factor (Douglas) and employees of the company. The Colonial Secretary was the administrative assistant to the Governor as well as keeper of the official record for the council, and later, of the Executive and Legislative Councils.
From 1859 to 1863, one Colonial Secretary (William Young) served both the Colony of British Columbia and the Colony of Vancouver Island under Governor Douglas. In 1863, the Colonial Office in England instituted constitutional changes that required a separate government for each colony. Along with James Douglas, Young relinquished his position with the Colony of British Columbia but they kept their positions with the Colony of Vancouver Island. Douglas appointed Young, as Colonial Secretary, to the Executive Council, along with the Attorney-General, Treasurer, and Surveyor-General. The Governor was the presiding member, but in the event of his incapacity or absence from the colony, the Colonial Secretary became the officer administering the government.
Young travelled to England in 1864/65, during which time Henry P. Wakeford, private secretary to Arthur Kennedy, the new governor of Vancouver Island (1864-1866), performed the duties of the Acting Colonial Secretary. Young returned to the position from 1865 to 1866. In November 1866, the Colony of Vancouver Island was united with the Colony of British Columbia, after which time there was a single Colonial Secretary for the united colony. Edwin Nesbitt served briefly as Colonial Secretary during the transition period. Arthur N. Birch was the first Colonial Secretary for the united Colony of British Columbia.
Places
Legal status
Functions, occupations and activities
The Colonial Secretary was the administrative assistant to the Governor as well as keeper of the official record for the council, and later, of the Executive and Legislative Councils.
Mandates/sources of authority
Internal structures/genealogy
A Government Name
General context
Relationships area
Related entity
Identifier of related entity
Category of relationship
Type of relationship
is the successor of
Vancouver Island (Colony). Colonial Secretary
Dates of relationship
Description of relationship
Access points area
Subject access points
Place access points
Occupations
Control area
Authority record identifier
Institution identifier
Rules and/or conventions used
ISAAR(CPF)
Status
Level of detail
Dates of creation, revision and deletion
Michael Carter 2008-07-28
MCARTER 2011-09-20
Revised: RMCRORY 2024-01-19
Language(s)
Script(s)
Sources
Central Name Authority File
Maintenance notes
Created by: Michael Carter