Thomas Wilson Paterson (1851 - 1921)

Born 6 Dec 1851 in Darvel, Ayrshire, Scotland

Husband of Emma Elizabeth (Riley) Paterson — married 25 Nov 1886 in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada

Died 28 Aug 1921 at age 69 in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada

Preceded by
James Dunsmuir

Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia
December 3, 1909 – December 5, 1914

Succeeded by
Francis Stillman Barnard

Thomas Paterson is/was a significant British Columbian.

Biography

Thomas Wilson Paterson was born in Darvel, Ayr on 6 December 1850^[1]. He was the son of William Paterson and Margaret Person.

At the time of the 1851 Scotland Census, William, Margaret, Elisabeth, Agnes, John, and Thomas Paterson were listed as living in Cunningham, Ayrshire^[2].

Thomas married Emma Riley in Victoria, British Columbia on November 25, 1886^[3].

At the time of the 1891 Canada Census, Thos and Emma Patterson were listed as living in Spallumcheen, British Columbia, along Emma's parents George and Mary A. Riley, Minnie Strickluna, and two other people^[4]. At the time of the census, Thomas' occupation was listed as "Railway Contr".

In 1897, Thomas filed for and was granted a patent for a spark catcher and smoke burner for locomotives^[5]. The following year, he filed for a patent in the United States as well^[6].

At the time of the 1901 Canada Census, Thomas Wilson and Emma Elizabeth Paterson were listed as living in Victoria, British Columbia, along with a niece named Mary Strickluna, Emma's parents George and Mary A. Riley, and a Chinese servant named Hong. ^[7]. At the time of the census, Thomas' occupation was listed as "Contractor".

In 1902, Thomas ran as an independent candidate in a byelection for the provincial legislative assembly prompted by the death of the incumbent, John Paton Booth. He defeated a government-aligned candidate by 43 votes (12% of the votes cast). In the 1903 general election, the North Victoria riding was abolished during redistribution, and Thomas ran as a Liberal candidate in the newly created riding of The Islands. He defeated a Conservative candidate by 67 votes (19% of the votes cast). In the 1907 general election, a new Conservative candidate won by 6 votes (2% of votes cast), and Thomas was unseated^[8].

At the time of the 1911 Canada Census, Thomas W. and Emma E. Paterson were listed as living in Government House, Victoria, along with five servants^[9]. At the time of the census, Thomas' occupation was listed as "Lt. Gov.".

In 1912, Thomas presented a cup to the Pacific Coast Hockey Association. The cup was first won by the New Westminster Royals, who were PCHA champions in the PCHA's first season^[10].

Thomas died in Victoria on August 28, 1921^[11][12], and was buried in Ross Bay Cemetery^[13].

Sources

1. ↑ "Scotland Births and Baptisms, 1564-1950," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XYSY-SVV : 2 January 2015), Thomas Paterson, 06 Dec 1850; citing , Loudoun, Ayr, Scotland, reference 2:16G9PZQ; FHL microfilm 1,041,394.
2. ↑ "Scotland Census, 1851," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VYYV-DW2 : 13 October 2014), Thomas Paterson, Cunningham, Ayrshire, Scotland; from "1851 England, Scotland & Wales census," database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : 2012); citing p. 8, PRO HO 107, The National Archives UK, Kew, Surrey; FHL microfilm 1,042,407.
3. ↑ Marriage Registration of Thomas Wilson Paterson and Emma Elisabeth Riley, Registration 1886-09-003141, BC Archives - Royal BC Museum. Accessed 2016-06-14.
4. ↑ Census of Canada, 1891, British Columbia, Yale (5), Spallumcheen (N), page 16, family 95, Thos Patterson; RG31 - Statistics Canada, roll T-6292 (http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/census/1891/Pages/item.aspx?itemid=96013 : Accessed May 29, 2017).
5. ↑ Canadian Intellectual Property Office: Patent 56793 Summary
6. ↑ Google Patents: Thomas wilson paterson: US 601355 A
7. ↑ Census of Canada, 1901, British Columbia, Victoria (4), Victoria (City) (D), Division Number 15, page 18, dwelling 190, family 190, Thomas W. Paterson; RG31 - Statistics Canada, roll T-6430 (http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/census/1901/Pages/item.aspx?itemid=122614 : Accessed June 14, 2016)
8. ↑ Electoral History of British Columbia 1871-1986. Victoria, BC: Elections British Columbia (1988), pages 91, 93, 102, 405.
9. ↑ Census of Canada, 1911, British Columbia, Victoria (13), Sub-District 13, page 12, dwelling 124, family 124, Thomas Wilson Paterson; RG31 - Statistics Canada, roll T-20338 (http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/census/1911/Pages/item.aspx?itemid=731319 : Accessed March 14, 2017).
10. ↑ [http://hockeygods.com/images/10890-Thomas_Wilson_Paterson___Lieutenant_Governor_of_British_Columbia Thomas Wilson Paterson - Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia
11. ↑ "British Columbia Death Registrations, 1872-1986; 1992-1993", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FLG9-82K : 30 September 2015), Thomas Wilson Paterson, 1921.
12. ↑ "British Columbia, Victoria Times Birth, Marriage and Death Notices, 1901-1939", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q2DS-7YDB : 28 February 2017), Thomas Wilson Paterson, 1921.
13. ↑ Find A Grave Memorial# 121312758: Thomas Wilson Paterson

See also:

• Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia: A Brief History of BC's Government House and the Vice-Regal Representative
• Wikipedia: Thomas Wilson Paterson
• Wikidata: Item Q1646953, en:Wikipedia