Yates, James
James Yates, a prominent Victoria pioneer of 1849, who contributed to the early development of the city and aided in shaping the public policy to the betterment of conditions, material, intellectual and political, in the province, was born in Linlithgow, Scotland, on the 21st of January, 1819. He was reared and educated in his native country and was there married to Miss Mary Powell. In early life he had learned the trade of a ship carpenter and he came to British Columbia in 1849 to superintend the building of the Hudson Bay ships, having an agreement whereby he was to remain in charge of this work for three years. He was stationed at Victoria for eighteen months, at the end of which time he applied for a termination of the business arrangement with the Hudson's Bay Company. This was granted and he then opened a store of his own in which he sold goods and bought furs. He also invested in city property and became the owner of all of the land extending between Langley and Wharf Streets, and Yates Street, in this district, was named in his honour. Recognizing and taking advantage of existing business possibilities, he made money rapidly, accumulating a handsome fortune during his sojourn in British Columbia. In 1855 he was elected to the first Legislative Council of Vancouver Island to represent Victoria City.
In 1860 he returned to Scotland, taking his family with him and leaving them in that country in order to provide his children with better educational advantages than could be secured in the province. He, however, returned to British Columbia in 1862 and it required two years for him to settle up his business. In 1864 he returned to his native land, where he spent his remaining days, departing this life on the 23rd of February, 1900, when in the eighty-first year of his age. His wife had died about a year prior to his demise. They were the parents of six children, as follows: Emma, who became the wife of Hon. Alexander McGregor, British consul in Stockholm, Sweden; Harriet, who became the wife of Professor G. S. Woodard, a professor of Pathology in the University of Cambridge; Mary, who is now Mrs. Harper, of Edinburgh, Scotland; Henry Myers and Catherine Jane, residing in Edinburgh, and James Stuart.
The last named was born in Victoria, in 1857, and in 1862 he started with the family for Scotland. While in New York, at the St. Denis Hotel, he came very nearly losing his life by falling several stories down the well of a circular staircase. Both of his legs were broken and the New York physician said he could not recover, but his father took him to Liverpool and placed him under the care of an eminent surgeon, Dr. Evan Thomas, and in three months he had recovered. He then joined the family in Scotland, where he acquired his education, attending the Edinburgh Collegiate School and the University of Edinburgh, being graduated in the latter institution with the degrees of Master of Arts, and Bachelor of Laws. He then entered Middle Temple, London, England, as a law student and passed the required examination for admission to the bar in the Hilary term in 1883.
After travelling through Denmark, Mr. Yates came again to British Columbia, arriving in Victoria in the month of October, 1883, and here he embarked in the practice of his profession in connection with George Jay. Edwin Johnson, a well-known barrister of Victoria, was absent in England for a year and they managed his business and upon his return the law firm of Johnson, Yates & Jay was organized, this relationship being continued until 1888, when Mr. Johnson withdrew, retiring from the practice of law. Since that time the firm of Yates & Jay has maintained a continuous existence, with a remunerative general law practice.
In his political views Mr. Yates is a Liberal. He was elected and served as one of the aldermen of the city in 1900, and was afterward re-elected by acclamation. He had the honour of being elected altogether four times and was the head and front of the controversy concerning the construction of the Point Ellis Bridge, and had his views been carried out at that time eighteen thousand dollars would have been saved to the city. Mr. Yates was prominent in the organization of the Native Sons of British Columbia and had the honour of being elected its first chief factor. He was for many years a director of the Royal Hospital and was also director of the Provincial Jubilee from its inception. He served as a member of the Victoria school board for four years, during which time the North and South Ward schoolhouses were built. He was a member of the Hon. Joseph Martin government, and under Mr. Martin he served as Chief Commissioner of Lands and Works. Thus his activities have touched many lines bearing upon public progress and the betterment of conditions, educational and otherwise, in Victoria and the province, and he is widely and favourably known for his public-spirited citizenship.
In 1890 Mr. Yates was happily married to Miss Annie Austin, a native of Victoria, and they now have three sons: James Austin, Henry Joel and Robert Stanley. The family are highly esteemed, and socially as well as professionally Mr. Yates is prominent.
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R. E. Gosnell, A History of British Columbia, (Vancouver, B. C.: Lewis Publishing Co., 1906). pp. 328-330.