Hugh Nelson (1830 - 1893)

Biography

Hugh Nelson was born in the family home Inagheramore, Larne, County Antrim, Ireland on 25 May 1830. He was the son of Robert Nelson and Frances Quinn.

Hugh emigrated to California in 1854. He arrived in British Columbia in 1858, and co-founded the B.C. & Victoria Express Company with partner George Dietz. Their company dominated the freight and market between Victoria and New Westminster and Yale. Dietz and Nelson sold the firm to Frank Barnard Sr., who merged it into his B.C. Express Company. Together with Sewell Moody, Dietz and Nelson formed Moody, Dietz and Nelson, operating name the Moodyville Sawmill Company in what is now North Vancouver.

Hugh was a member of the Yale Convention, which ushered in BC's union with Canada. He was a member of the colonial Legislative Assembly of British Columbia. In 1871, he was elected to the House of Commons, representing New Westminster, and re-elected in 1872. He did not run in 1874.

In 1879, he was appointed to the Senate. He withdrew from business in 1882.

Hugh married Emily Stanton in Ottawa, Ontario on September 17, 1885^[1]. He resigned his senate seat in 1887 when he was appointed Lieutenant-Governor of British Columbia.

At the time of the 1891 Canada Census, Hugh and Emily Nelson were listed as living in Victoria, British Columbia, along with Emily's bother Herbert Stanton, and two Chinese servants^[2]. At the time of the census, Hugh's occupation was listed as "Lt. Governor".

In 1892, Hugh resigned as Lieutenant-Governor and returned to England. Hugh died in London, England on 3 March 1893. His death was registered in Wandsworth, London in the first quarter of 1893^[3], and he was buried in St Kenelms Churchyard, Enstone, Oxfordshire^[4].

Sources

1. ↑ "Ontario Marriages, 1869-1927," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FMJ2-BXJ : accessed 29 May 2016), Hugh Nelson and Emily G Stanton, 17 Sep 1885; citing registration , Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, Archives of Ontario, Toronto; FHL microfilm 1,869,802.
2. ↑ Census of Canada, 1891, British Columbia, Victoria (4), James' Bay Ward (A), page 49, family 238, Hugh Nelson; RG31 - Statistics Canada, roll T-6291 (http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/census/1891/Pages/item.aspx?itemid=66398 : Accessed September 10, 2017).
3. ↑ "England and Wales Death Registration Index 1837-2007," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2JVV-XLV : 31 December 2014), Hugh Nelson, 1893; from "England & Wales Deaths, 1837-2006," database, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : 2012); citing Death, Wandsworth, London, England, General Register Office, Southport, England.
4. ↑ Find A Grave Memorial# 94604547: Hugh Nelson

• Dictionary of Canadian Biography: Nelson, Hugh
• Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia: A Brief History of BC's Government House and the Vice-Regal Representative
• Parliament of Canada - Parliamentarian File: NELSON, The Hon. Hugh
• Wikipedia: Hugh Nelson (Canadian politician)
• Wikidata: Item Q222810, en:Wikipedia