James Douglas (governor)

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Sir James Douglas KCB
James Douglas, wearing the insignia of the Order of the Bath
1st Governor of British Columbia
In office 1858–1864
Succeeded by	Frederick Seymour
2nd Governor of Vancouver Island
In office 1851–1864
Preceded by	Richard Blanshard
Succeeded by	Arthur Edward Kennedy
Personal details
Born	(1803-08-15)August 15, 1803 Demerara, Dutch/Batavian Colony of Essequibo
Died	August 2, 1877(1877-08-02) (aged 73) Victoria, British Columbia
Resting place	Ross Bay Cemetery
Political party	None
Spouse	Amelia Douglas ​ (m. 1828)​
Children	13 (6 lived to adulthood), including James W. Douglas
Parents	John Douglas (father) Martha Ann (mother)

Sir James Douglas, KCB (August 15, 1803 – August 2, 1877) was a Canadian fur trader and politician who became the first Governor of the Colony of British Columbia. He is often credited as "The Father of British Columbia". He was instrumental to the resettlement of 35 African Americans fleeing a life of racial persecution in San Francisco who arrived in the province aboard the steamship Commodore in what later became known as the Pioneer Committee. In 1863, Douglas was knighted by Queen Victoria for his services to the Crown.

He started work at 16 for the North West Company and then the Hudson's Bay Company and became a high-ranking officer. From 1851 to 1864, he was Governor of the Colony of Vancouver Island.^[1] In 1858, he became the first Governor of the Colony of British Columbia and asserted the authority of the British Empire during the Fraser Canyon Gold Rush, which had the potential to turn the Mainland into an American state. He remained governor of both colonies until his retirement in 1864.