William Henry Bevis was born in England and came to
Vancouver Island in
1858. He had previously been a purser on steamships travelling between
Panama, Lima, and Callao. Bevis was appointed revenue officer of
Fort Langley in
July 1858. In
1860 he was part of the
Victoria Police Force for a short time.
He was appointed the first lighthouse keeper at
Fisgard Lighthouse,
Esquimalt, in
1861, and remained in that office until his death. In
1873 he compiled a meteorological report for
1872, which demonstrated
Victoria's excellent climate. He died after a prolonged illness in
August 1879, aged approximately 50.