James Douglas death certificate

James Douglas death certificate

British Columbia
Colonial relations
Death
Fur trade
Hudson’s Bay Company
19th century

The source is the death certificate of James Douglas, who came to Canada as a fur trader in 1819 for the North West Company and became the Governor of the British Columbia colony in 1858. The certificate shows that James Douglas lived until the age of 74, died on 2 August 1877. The source states that James Douglas died of a heart attack. The death certificate is significant because of the role that Douglas played in Vancouver Island, with his renown earning him the knighthood with 2nd level of the Order of the Bath, earning him and his wife the title. His funeral procession was one of the largest in the history of British Columbia. Lastly, this source is reflective of historians focus on colonialism over the lives of native people in Vancouver Island.

Douglas family

Royal British Columbia Museum, British Columbia Archive Collection

http://search-bcarchives.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/bank-receipt

2 August 1877

David Cook

Royal British Columbia Museum

PR 1428 James Douglas Family fonds
MS 1264 Family records (B/90/2)

http://search-bcarchives.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/bank-receipt

English

Textual - handwritten death certificate

19th century British Columbia