Person

James Douglas (governor)

1803–1877 · 19th century · Also known as Sir James Douglas

James Douglas was a Hudson's Bay Company fur trader and chief factor who founded Fort Victoria in 1843. He governed the Colony of Vancouver Island from 1851 to 1864, concluding the Douglas Treaties with First Nations, and in 1858 also became governor of the new Colony of British Columbia during the Fraser River gold rush, cutting his ties with the Company. He is often called the father of British Columbia.

James Douglas (governor)
Image: Unknown authorUnknown author · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons

Mentioned in 2 state histories

See also

Cite this entry
APA
The Epoch Institute. (2026). James Douglas (governor). In The Epoch Institute Encyclopedia. https://the-epoch-institute.org/encyclopedia/james-douglas-governor
MLA
“James Douglas (governor).” The Epoch Institute Encyclopedia, The Epoch Institute, 2026, https://the-epoch-institute.org/encyclopedia/james-douglas-governor. Accessed .
Chicago
The Epoch Institute. “James Douglas (governor).” The Epoch Institute Encyclopedia. 2026. https://the-epoch-institute.org/encyclopedia/james-douglas-governor.
Harvard
The Epoch Institute (2026) ‘James Douglas (governor)’, The Epoch Institute Encyclopedia. Available at: https://the-epoch-institute.org/encyclopedia/james-douglas-governor (Accessed: ).

Last reviewed October 2026Random entry ↻