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.
1 Connolly led
400 of Her Majesty’s seamen and marines
into the
Cowichan valley in the search for
the culprit.
2 Governor James Douglas was so impressed with Connolly’s
extraordinary merit
that, in his
report of the expedition, he recommended Connolly receive a promotion.
3 Henry Labouchere responded to
Douglas stating that copies of his recommendation had been forwarded
to the Board of Admiralty.
4 Just over a year later, Connolly was promoted to Captain on
5 February 1858.
5 He remained in the Royal Navy as a captain until
21 December 1871 when he retired.
6