Roderick Finlayson

Roderick Finlayson (March 16, 1818 – January 20, 1892) was a Canadian Hudson's Bay Company officer, farmer, businessman, and politician.

For the New Zealand architectural draughtsman, see Roderick David Finlayson. For the Moderator of the Free Church of Scotland, see Roderick A. Finlayson.
Roderick Finlayson
Born(1818-03-16)March 16, 1818
Loch Alsh (Kyle of Lochalsh), Scotland
DiedJanuary 20, 1892(1892-01-20) (aged 73)
Victoria, British Columbia

Born in Loch Alsh (Kyle of Lochalsh), Scotland, Finlayson came to North America in 1837. He moved to Lower Canada into an apprentice clerk position with the Hudson’s Bay Company (HBC).

As an HBC clerk, Finlayson worked under Charles Ross in the building of Fort Victoria in 1843–1844. Upon Ross's death, which he mentions with sympathy in his autobiography, Finlayson was promoted to command of the HBC's Fort Victoria in 1844.[1] After Chief Factor James Douglas arrived from Fort Vancouver in 1849, Finlayson was reassigned to second in command. Also in 1849 he married Sarah Work, one of John Work's Metis daughters.

In 1850 Finlayson was promoted to the rank of Chief Trader, and in 1859 to Chief Factor.[2] Finlayson retired from the HBC in 1872.[3] In 1878 he was elected mayor of Victoria.[1]

Finlayson was one of the few to see Victoria grow from bare ground to the Capital of British Columbia. He was called the "father of Victoria" by chronicler of BC history, John Walbran.[4]

Finlayson Arm,[5] Finlayson Point,[3] and Mount Finlayson[6] are named for Roderick Finlayson.

References
  1. Stardom, Eleanor (1990). "FINLAYSON, RODERICK". Dictionary of Canadian Biography. University of Toronto/Université Laval. 12. Retrieved 25 August 2022.
  2. Watson, Bruce McIntyre (2010). Lives Lived West of the Divide: A Biographical Dictionary of Fur Traders Working West of the Rockies, 1793-1858. Kelowna, BC: University of British Columbia, Okanagen. pp. 357, 1075. ISBN 978-0-9810212-7-0.
  3. "Finlayson Point". BC Geographical Names.
  4. "Finlayson Point". BC Geographical Names.
  5. "Finlayson Arm". BC Geographical Names.
  6. "Mount Finlayson". BC Geographical Names.


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