Captain James Sangster was born in Port Glasgow, although that is all that is known
of his early life. He did serve on several voyages between
London and the
Columbia District; after these journeys, Sangster entered the service of the
HBC in 1832, perhaps as early as 1827, as a seaman. In 1837, Sangster commanded the brig Llama and later on the brigatine
Cadboro from 1848-1854. Although he was a well-liked and skilled in his position, he was described by
George Simpson as
a confirmed drunkard.
In 1851, Sangster retired from his work on company vessels and purchased 20 acres
in
Esquimalt. He later becoming pilot in general, harbourmaster,
Victoria's first postmaster, and Collector of Customs -- recommended by
James Douglas as reported in
this letter. Sangster was an odd man, and near the end of his life he would lock himself in his
home and had only a small slot for mail in order to avoid people. Inasmuch, his health
began to plumet in the 1850s and by 1858 he took his own life to
end his misery.
Today the “Sangster Plains” and Sangster Elementary School in
Metchosin are named after him.