Vernon, Hon. Forbes
Hon. F. G. Vernon, a pioneer citizen, prominent man of affairs and for a number of years intimately identified with the administrative policies of the province, has liven in British Columbia since 1863, and is now a well known resident of Victoria, where he has large interests.
Mr. Vernon is a native of Ireland and was born near Dublin, at Chartarf Castle, on August 21, 1843. He descended from an old and illustrious family of Ireland. The earliest ancestors founded the town of Vernon in Normandy, and followed William the Conqueror into England. About the fifteenth century some of them crossed the channel into Ireland and settled at Clontarf. In this vicinity some large estates came into the possession of the Vernons, which still remains in their ownership. It was on this ancestral demesne, inherited by his father and now owned by his elder brother, Colonel Edward Vernon, D. L., that Mr. F. G. Vernon was brought up. He was educated in England for the Royal Engineers, eventually receiving a commission in the Twenty-first Fusiliers, but resigned it the same year it was granted, 1863, and in company with his brother Charles A. and Colonel Houghton, took passage for New York, and from there to Aspinwall, Panama, and San Francisco, arriving in due course at Esquimalt. The party settled finally in the Yale district and engaged in stock-raising, mining and merchandising. Colonel Houghton sold his interests to the brothers in 1873, and later on Mr. F. G. Vernon purchased the interests of his brothers. He immediately increased his possessions from three thousand to thirteen thousand acres, imported blooded cattle and engaged in farming on an extensive scale.
In 1875 began Mr. Vernon's public career by his election to the provincial legislature as a representative from Yale, being returned by a large majority. In February, 1876, he accepted the portfolio of chief commissioner of lands and works in the Elliot cabinet, and on seeking confirmation in this office by the votes of the people he was re-elected by and overwhelming majority, and the confidence thus plainly manifested in his ability and integrity was never misplaced during his long legislative and administrative career. He retained this position in the cabinet until the general election of 1878, when he was again returned to the legislature by his constituency. But in consequence of the defeat of the Elliot ministry about that time, during the remainder of this term he sat among the opposition. In 1882 he was not a candidate, but in 1886 was again elected, and in 1887, on the death of Hon. Mr. Smythe, he accepted the vacant office in the Davie cabinet as chief commissioner of lands and works. In June, 1890, he was again sent up by his constituency, and continued to hold his ministerial office during the premiership of Hon. John Robson and of Hon. Theodore Davie, filling the position most acceptably until 1894. During his long official career he proved himself one of the most capable and public-spirited men ever chosen to office by the people of this province, and the affairs of his department notably prospered throughout his terms. For four years, 1895 to 1899, he resided in London, England, as agent general for the province of British Columbia, holding that position until the office was abolished.
Mr. Vernon is now retired from political life, and during recent years has disposed of his large holdings in the interior of the country, investing largely in real estate and buildings in Victoria and on the mainland.
In 1877 Mr. Vernon married Miss Branks, by whom he had two children, the daughter, Miss Beatrice, being the only survivor. The death of Mrs. Vernon occurred in 1884. The prosperous town of Vernon, population two thousand, takes its name from the subject of our sketch.
R. E. Gosnell, A History of British Columbia, (Vancouver, B. C.: Lewis Publishing Co., 1906). pp. 693-695.