Commander Mathew Connolly was a member of the Royal Navy who helped to
capture and hang
Tathlasut for his attempted murder of
Thomas Williams in the summer of
1856.
Connolly led
400 of Her Majesty's seamen and marines
into the
Cowichan valley
in the search for
the culprit.
Governor James Douglas was so impressed with Connolly's
extraordinary merit
that, in his
report of the expedition, he recommended Connolly receive a
promotion.
Henry Labouchere responded to
Douglas stating that copies of his recommendation
had been forwarded
to the Board of Admiralty.
Just over a year later, Connolly was promoted to Captain on
5 February
1858.
He remained in the Royal Navy as a captain until
21 December 1871 when he
retired.