Cadell, Philip
Born in 1810 in Edinburgh, Scotland, Philip Cadell was a mining tradesman and inventor.1 Cadell had extensive experience in mining operations in California2 before coming to Victoria in the late 1860s.3 In a 1858 letter to the Colonial Office (CO), Cadell requested immediate employment withCaptain Parsons' company in order to render essential assistance with reference to the disposal of the mining Population now in [British Columbia], towards productive operations, [and to] prevent their withdrawal from the Country.4 Cadell composed reports for the CO on how to develop mining in British Columbia 5 and wrote to the prime minister to implement these colonial development plans. 6 From 1858 to 1860, Cadell, without solicitation or encouragement, sent a score of letters7 to the Colonial Office in quest of Government employment in the New Colony.8 Despite his fervent desire to improve the permanent population and the production of gold, Cadell was not hired by any colonial officials.9 Many of his letters to the office were deemed not to be answered, and despatch minutes reveal that officials thought Mr. Cadell [was] not right in the head.10 Cadell had an independent career in gold mining and colonial operations without the aid of a Colonial Office appointment. In the 1870s, Cadell invented Gold Washing Machinery,11 and a gold extracting sifter.12 Additionally, Cadell was an auditor for the city of Victoria in the 1870s.13 On 9 May 1883, Cadell passed away at the age of 73.14
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Parsons, Robert Mann

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Colonial Office

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British Columbia

California

Victoria