b. 1828-11-30
d. 1878-01-10
Robert Burnaby was born 30 November 1828 in Leicestershire, England. Burnaby entered
the Civil Service as an adult, and would have an extremely successful career. Burnaby travelled to
Vancouver Island in 1858, intending to meet with Governor
James Douglas as organized by
Lytton. He would spend the following twenty years on the Pacific coast, and would leave
an enduring legacy.
Burnaby worked as private secretary for
Richard Clement Moody for most of 1858, only taking time to travel to
Burrard Inlet in search of coal, and
San Francisco. The following year, Burnaby started a merchant company called Henderson and Burnaby.
Although initially successful, the company failed in 1865 due to economic depression
in the region. Next, Burnaby started a somewhat more successful real estate and insurance business.
In 1863, Burnaby was one of the founders of the
Victoria Chamber Of Commerce.
Burnaby was also an active politician during his time on the Pacific coast. In 1863,
he ran for and was elected as the representative from
Esquimalt and
Metchosin in the
Victoria Legislative Assembly. Burnaby held the position for the following four years. Then, in 1866, Burnaby met
with other prominent Victorian merchants in
London to discuss the union of
British Columbia and
Vancouver Island. The merchants agreed that a union would be preferable and reported their conclusion
to
Lytton.
Burnaby was notably critical of natives on the Pacific coast. Burnaby once stated,
The Indians are very particular about their style of blanket and its quality; quite
as much so, indeed, as Ladies are about the fashion of their attire.
Burnaby continued, the moment they see you want something they double their demands.
Burnaby can be considered a sort of Renaissance man. He started with a successful
career in the civil service, then started two businesses on the Pacific coast, and
enjoyed a successful political career. Burnaby was also the president of
Victoria's Amateur Dramatic Association in 1863, and founded the first freemason lodge at
Victoria in 1860, and later in
British Columbia. Burnaby also played a large role in the planned settlements at
Hope and
Yale in
British Columbia. Burnaby was extremely socially connected, with prominent friends like
Moody,
Matthew Begbie, and
Henry Pering Crease. Burnaby praised
Douglas for his political ability, but believed his
hot headedness
during the
San Juan Island Dispute could have
risked a collision.
Burnaby retired due to declining health in 1869. Then, in 1874, he returned to England
seeking treatment for his ailing health. He died 10 January 1878 in Leicestershire, England. Burnaby's name has been given
to many locations in
British Columbia, notably the Burnaby district and lake, as well as Burnaby Mountain where Simon Fraser
University is located.
- 1. Madge Wolfenden, Burnaby, Robert, Dictionary Of Canadian Biography.
- 2. Ibid.
- 3. Ibid.
- 4. Ibid.
- 5. Ibid.
- 6. Douglas to Newcastle, 29 August 1863, No. 36, 10020, CO 305/20, 341.
- 7. Wolfenden, Burnaby, Robert.
- 8. Ibid.
- 9. Burnaby, Robert, Dear Harriet…from Robert, British Columbia Historical News 31.2 (1998). 35.
- 10. Wolfenden, Burnaby, Robert.
- 11. Ibid.
- 12. Robie L. Reid, Robert Burnaby, Grand Lodge Of British Columbia and Yukon.
- 13. Wolfenden, Burnaby, Robert ; Burnaby, Robert, Dear Harriet…from Robert British Columbia Historical News.
- 14. Wolfenden, Burnaby, Robert.
- 15. Ibid.