After serving on several voyages between
London and the
Columbia District, James Sangster entered the service of the HBC in 1832 as a seaman. In 1848, he prepared
a map of the coal beds of
Vancouver Island. The following year, he signed a petition protesting
Douglas's succession to
Blanshard as governor. He was master of the company vessel, Cadboro, when it was seized by
the United States in 1850. In 1852,
Douglas recommended him for the post of Collector of Customs, as reported in
this letter. Sangster retired in 1858 and apparently committed suicide the same year.