Thomas Harris
Harris in Office
Mayor of Victoria, British Columbia
In office
1862–1865
Personal details
Born1817?
England
DiedNovember 29, 1884 (aged 67)
Victoria, British Columbia

Thomas Harris (1817?[1] – November 29, 1884[2]) was the first mayor of Victoria, British Columbia, serving from 1862 to 1865.

Born in Almeley, Herefordshire, Harris married Emily Dickinson, a widow, in Liverpool in 1848. Harris came to Victoria by way of California in 1858, at the height of the Cariboo gold rush. He ran a slaughterhouse for a time, then became a butcher shortly afterward and made his fortune.[1]

A jovial man who had an opinion on everything and wasn't afraid to tell whoever would listen, he was a likely candidate for election in 1862 when the town's father decided to incorporate the town. At election time, Harris won by "forest of hands" amid a group of 600 men. During his second official council meeting, the 300 pound (136 kg) Harris had a chair collapse under his own weight.

In 1873, he was named sergeant-at-arms for the provincial legislature. He was named high sheriff for Vancouver Island in 1876.[1]

Harris Green, an area within Victoria, is named after him.

His stepson Robert Dickinson took over the shop in New Westminster and served as mayor of that city.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Dennison, Robert G (2008). "An "'Umble Tradesman": Thomas Harris First Mayor of Victoria" (PDF). British Columbia History. British Columbia Historical Federation. 41 (4): 11–15. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-10-04. Retrieved 2011-07-24.
  2. ↑ http://search.bcarchives.gov.bc.ca/sn-2004D11/view/Deaths/find-adv%2B%20givennames%3D(thomas)%20AND%20place%3D(victoria)%20AND%20surname%3D(harris)%20%2B%2B%2B%2B/1


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