Title and statement of responsibility area
Title proper
Letterbook copies of despatches from Governor Douglas to Colonial Office
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- textual record
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- Source of title proper: Title based on the contents of the series.
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Class of material specific details area
Statement of scale (cartographic)
Statement of projection (cartographic)
Statement of coordinates (cartographic)
Statement of scale (architectural)
Issuing jurisdiction and denomination (philatelic)
Dates of creation area
Date(s)
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1853-1854 (Creation)
- Creator
- Vancouver Island (Colony). Governor (1851-1864 : Douglas)
Physical description area
Physical description
6 cm of textual records
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Archival description area
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Biographical history
The first governor of the Colony of Vancouver Island, Richard Blanshard, was appointed in 1849 by royal commission (21 July 1849, Queen Victoria). 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 (James Douglas) and employees of the company.
In 1849, Vancouver Island was granted to the company as a colony. Blanshard arrived in Victoria in March 1850 to take up the position of Governor. The instructions issued to him included the authority to issue writs of summons and writs of elections, administer oaths, grant or withhold assent to bills, appoint and suspend public officials as instructed by the Crown, grant pardon or clemency to persons convicted in colonial courts, issue marriage licenses, and ensure that proper records were kept of all matters within the jurisdiction of the colony.
Blanshard resigned in 1851 and James Douglas was appointed as Governor of the colony. The Hudson’s Bay Company grant expired in 1859 and Britain assumed responsibility for the Colony of Vancouver Island. Douglas continued as Governor until 1863 when he retired and Arthur Edward Kennedy was appointed. Kennedy remained in that position until 1866 when the colony was united with the Colony of British Columbia.
Custodial history
Scope and content
This series contains a letterbook copy of despatches from Governor Douglas to Colonial Secretary, Duke of Newcastle, 8 June 1853, concerning expedition of HM Steam Sloop Virago to Queen Charlotte Islands. There is also a draft despatch, 26 July 1853, concerning the capture of vessel Susan Sturgis by Indians of Queen Charlotte Islands and Fort Simpson.
Notes area
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Availability of other formats
1 microfilm reel [B13075(8)]
Restrictions on access
Conservation restriction: use microfilm copy
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Finding aids
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General note
Accession number(s): 94-8201
Alternative identifier(s)
Standard number area
Standard number
Access points
Subject access points
Place access points
Name access points
- Douglas, James, Sir, 1803-1877 (Subject)
- Great Britain. Colonial Office (Subject)
- Prevost, James Charles, 1810-1891 (Subject)
- Susan Sturgis (ship) (Subject)
- Virago, H.M.S. (1842-1876) (Subject)
- Great Britain. Royal Navy (Subject)
- Vancouver Island (Colony). Governor (1851-1864 : Douglas) (Subject)