b. 1851-07-08
d. 1920-06-06
From meagre beginnings in a
Fort Rupert miner’s cabin, the Dunsmuirs would go on to be one of the wealthiest, and most prominent
families in early
British Columbia. James’s father, Robert Dunsmuir, established a successful mine at Wellington, and,
after James completed his education, he returned to
Nanaimo and took the position of manager at the Wellington mine.
The Dunsmuirs’ extended their coal operations into the Comox Valley, and, with the
help of investors from California, built the Esquimalt and Nanaimo Railway. After
his father died in 1900, James spent several years consolidating his numerous business
assets, both, by buying out his partners, and, since Robert Dunsmuir left all of his
shares to his wife, in court against his own mother.2
James had been elected MLA of Comox in 1898, and he would continue to rise up the
political ranks; in 1900 he became premier of
British Columbia, and proceeded to the lieutenant-governorship in 1906—a position which he held until
11 December 1909.
3Some historians, as well as many of Dunsmuir’s contemporaries, labelled him a self
serving politician—most notably because of his Asian immigration and labour policies—however,
Dunsmuir was patriarchal figure who ran his businesses like a family, and often considered
his employees best interests. As well, Dunsmuir’s many donations to local charities
and social services, and his contributions to the business and economical spheres
of
British Columbia should not be overlooked as part of his legacy.
4After his stint in politics, and, with his children either abroad or
leading frivolous lives,
Dunsmuir retreated to a solitary life on his estate at Hatley Park. Dunsmuir spent
many of his later years hunting and fishing at his lodge on the
Cowichan River, where he died in 1920.
5
- 1. Clarence Karr, Dunsmuir, James, Dictionary of Canadian Biography Online.
- 2. Ibid.
- 3. Ibid.
- 4. Ibid.
- 5. Ibid.