Skinner, Thomas James
b. 1823(?)
d. 1889-06-01
Thomas James Skinner was an early settler and politician on Vancouver Island. Born in Essex, England, he travelled abroad with the East India Company before joining the Puget Sound Agricultural Company, a subsidiary of the Hudson's Bay Company, in 1852.1 After his arrival at Esquimalt aboard the Norman Morison on 17 January 1853, he was placed in charge of nearby Constance Farm, which eventually became known as Skinner's Farm.2 On 29 March 1853 he was appointed magistrate and justice of the peace in the Peninsula district by Governor James Douglas.3 He represented the Esquimalt District in the House of Assembly of Vancouver Island from 1856 until his narrow defeat in the election of 11 January 1860.4 Skinner's daughter, Constance, married future British Columbia premier A. E. B. Davie in 1874.5 Thomas Skinner died on 1 June 1889.6
Mentions of this person in the documents
People in this document

Douglas, James

Organizations in this document

East India Company

Hudson's Bay Company

Puget Sound Agricultural Company

Vessels in this document

Norman Morison, 1849-1853

Places in this document

Esquimalt

Esquimalt District

Vancouver Island