Biographical Dictionary of Well-Known British Columbians (1890)
Shakespeare, Noah (Victoria) was born at Brierly Hill, Staffordshire, England, on the 26th of January, 1839. His family trace their descent from the Shakespeares of Warwickshire, of whom the great poet was a member. After receiving what instruction was obtainable at the public school of his native place, Mr. Shakespeare, being of an independent and ambitious turn of mind, set about making his own way in the world. The lessons which he thus early gained from experience, served him better in climbing the path to distinction than any long scholastic course would have done. He did not, however, as is too often the case with lads leaving school, especially at an early age, abandon his books, but on the contrary after his hours of daily toil he employed his evenings in study. In September, 1862, having become impressed, by favourable reports, of British Columbia as a country in which a young man might make fame and fortune, Mr. Shakespeare took passage for Victoria, which place he reached after sailing round Cape Horn on the 10th of January, 1864. As his purse was scantily lined he did not hesitate to accept the first position which offered and which was in the Vancouver collieries. Here he remained for several years performing efficiently and faithfully the work entrusted to him to do. He then removed to Victoria, and shortly afterwards became recognized by the community as a rising man. The workingmen looked to him as their exponent and champion in all matters which affected them, while the citizens generally regarded him as one having at heart the best interest of the community at large. The first public office he accepted was that of councilor and this position he retained for four years.
Shortly after arriving in Victoria the evil which was being occasioned to the Province and which was then more immediately felt by the working man, through the immigration of large numbers of Chinese, impressed itself strongly on Mr. Shakespeare's mind, and he a once began to cast about for some means of mitigating or removing what threatened, at no distant date, to render British Columbia the dumping ground for the worst class of Asiatics. He pointed out to the citizens the dangers which were so apparent to himself and the result was a general agitation in favour of preventing the entry of Chinese into the country. In 1876, Mr. Shakespeare's name headed a petition signed by fifteen hundred workingmen which was presented to the Dominion Parliament, praying that an act similar to the Australian act, restricting the immigration of Chinese be passed. The petition was presented by Hon. Amor De Cosmos, who at that time represented Victoria in the Federal House. No immediate steps were taken by Parliament in answer to this petition but the agitation was kept up and an Anti-Chinese society formed for that purpose, of which Mr. Shakespeare was elected president in 1879.
In 1882 he was elected to the position of chief magistrate of the city by a large majority of the voters and discharged the important duties which this office entailed so much to the general satisfaction that he was, at the expiration of his term, presented with an illuminated address. It was during his incumbency of the Mayoralty that Governor-General Lord Lorne and Princess Louise paid their visit to the Pacific Coast and upon Mr. Shakespeare devolved the duty of entertaining the distinguished guests. In the general election of 1882 he was chosen in conjunction with Mr. E. Crowe Baker to represent Victoria in the Federal parliament. He was now able to urge in person for restrictive legislation in regard to Chinese immigration and with the assistance of his colleague he succeeded in the session of 1884 in having the present act passed. In 1882 Mr. Shakespeare was elected president of the Mechanics' Institute and in 1885, president of the British Columbia Agricultures at his native place and neighbouring towns which influenced a large number of people to emigrate to British Columbia and the Northwest Territories. At the general election of 1887, Mr. Shakespeare was again elected to represent his adopted city in the Dominion House. At the conclusion of the first session of this Parliament he accepted the position of Postmaster at Victoria and retired from the political arena. Throughout his career in Parliament, Mr. Shakespeare worked disinterestedly for the welfare of his Province. He was elected as a supporter of the Macdonald Government and saw no reason to withdraw his allegiance from the Conservative party. In 1886 he accepted the presidency of the British Columbia Mutual Fire Insurance Company, which he was instrumental in organizing.
Throughout his career Mr. Shakespeare has been a consistent temperance man and has passed
through all the offices in the Good Templars' organization. In 1877 he was elected Grand
Worthy Chief of the Grand Lodge of Washington Territory and British Columbia, and during
1878 he filled the same position. In 1886 he was elected president of the Young Men's
Christian Association of Victoria. In every sense Mr. Shakespeare is a man who has grown
up with the country and given his best thought and work to the development of her resources.
His career is an example of what may be accomplished by men of sound abilities, who make
devotion to duty and unswerving honesty their guides through life. In religion Mr. Shakespeare
is an adherent of the Methodist Church. In 1859 he was married to Miss Eliza Jane Pearson
and has five children.
[Dictionary, pp. 284-286].
Biographical Dictionary of Well-Known British Columbians. With a Historical Sketch. By J.B. Kerr (Vancouver, B.C.: Kerr &Begg, 1890).