Benjamin Pearse
Encyclopedia
Benjamin William Pearse (January 19, 1832 – June 17, 1902) was a public servant for the colonies of Vancouver Island
and of British Columbia
. Pearse most notably served on the Executive Council, which served as the interim government in British Columbia after it joined the Dominion of Canada.
Born in Devon, England
, Pearse left England in 1851 to become a surveyor for the Hudson’s Bay Company at Fort Victoria
on Vancouver Island
. In 1855, he became a public servant and entered the employ of Vancouver Island. He became acting surveyor-general
of Vancouver Island in 1859 and received the post permanently from 1864 to 1866, when Vancouver Island was united with British Columbia. In this capacity, he was a member of the colonial legislative and executive councils. He would also later serve as the surveyor-general and chief commissioner of lands and works for the united province from August 1871 to October 1872.
He resigned from his posts as surveyor-general and chief commissioner of lands and works of British Columbia in 1872 to become the head of the British Columbia Department of Public Works, a post which he would retain until 1880. Allegations were brought against Pearse in May 1879 in the Canadian House of Commons
by MPs Thomas Robert McInnes
and Arthur Bunster
over the construction of the British Columbia Penitentiary. Though Pearse was found innocent of charges in an official investigation, they contributed to his resignation in July 1880. They were not the first charges of land abuse brought against Pearse; previously, allegations were made that Pearse had profited from the sale of territory during the Fraser Canyon Gold Rush
.
Pearse had other varied interests as well. In 1855, he became a member of the first Canadian musical ensemble west of the Rocky Mountains
. He was also closely tied with Britain politically and philosophically, and helped to form a branch of the British Empire Navy League in Victoria. Pearse was one of the earliest settlers of the Fernwood neighborhood
in Victoria as well.
Pearse died on June 17, 1902 of cancer
in Victoria, British Columbia
. He left money to a wide variety of philanthropic organizations and other facilities, notably contributing to Victoria College
and helping to bring about the foundation of the school’s board of governors
.
Vancouver Island
Vancouver Island is a large island in British Columbia, Canada. It is one of several North American locations named after George Vancouver, the British Royal Navy officer who explored the Pacific Northwest coast of North America between 1791 and 1794...
and of British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
. Pearse most notably served on the Executive Council, which served as the interim government in British Columbia after it joined the Dominion of Canada.
Born in Devon, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, Pearse left England in 1851 to become a surveyor for the Hudson’s Bay Company at Fort Victoria
Fort Victoria
Fort Victoria may refer to:* Fort Victoria, Alberta, Canada* Fort Victoria , Canada* Fort Victoria * Fort Victoria , England* Masvingo, Zimbabwe, named Fort Victoria until 1982...
on Vancouver Island
Vancouver Island
Vancouver Island is a large island in British Columbia, Canada. It is one of several North American locations named after George Vancouver, the British Royal Navy officer who explored the Pacific Northwest coast of North America between 1791 and 1794...
. In 1855, he became a public servant and entered the employ of Vancouver Island. He became acting surveyor-general
Surveyor General
The Surveyor General is an official responsible for government surveying in a specific country or territory. Originally this would often have been a military appointment, but is now more likely to be a civilian post....
of Vancouver Island in 1859 and received the post permanently from 1864 to 1866, when Vancouver Island was united with British Columbia. In this capacity, he was a member of the colonial legislative and executive councils. He would also later serve as the surveyor-general and chief commissioner of lands and works for the united province from August 1871 to October 1872.
He resigned from his posts as surveyor-general and chief commissioner of lands and works of British Columbia in 1872 to become the head of the British Columbia Department of Public Works, a post which he would retain until 1880. Allegations were brought against Pearse in May 1879 in the Canadian House of Commons
Canadian House of Commons
The House of Commons of Canada is a component of the Parliament of Canada, along with the Sovereign and the Senate. The House of Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 308 members known as Members of Parliament...
by MPs Thomas Robert McInnes
Thomas Robert McInnes
Thomas Robert McInnes or Tòmas Raibeart Mac Aonghais was a Canadian physician, Member of the House of Commons, Senator, and the sixth Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia....
and Arthur Bunster
Arthur Bunster
Arthur Bunster was a Canadian entrepreneur and Member of Parliament.Bunster was born in Queen's County , Ireland and was educated in Dublin, attending Trinity College. He came to Vancouver Island in 1856 and settled in Victoria, British Columbia. After trying his hand at several other ventures,...
over the construction of the British Columbia Penitentiary. Though Pearse was found innocent of charges in an official investigation, they contributed to his resignation in July 1880. They were not the first charges of land abuse brought against Pearse; previously, allegations were made that Pearse had profited from the sale of territory during the Fraser Canyon Gold Rush
Fraser Canyon Gold Rush
The Fraser Canyon Gold Rush, began in 1858 after gold was discovered on the Thompson River in British Columbia at its confluence with the Nicoamen River. This was a few miles upstream from the Thompson's confluence with the Fraser River at present-day Lytton...
.
Pearse had other varied interests as well. In 1855, he became a member of the first Canadian musical ensemble west of the Rocky Mountains
Canadian Rockies
The Canadian Rockies comprise the Canadian segment of the North American Rocky Mountains range. They are the eastern part of the Canadian Cordillera, extending from the Interior Plains of Alberta to the Rocky Mountain Trench of British Columbia. The southern end borders Idaho and Montana of the USA...
. He was also closely tied with Britain politically and philosophically, and helped to form a branch of the British Empire Navy League in Victoria. Pearse was one of the earliest settlers of the Fernwood neighborhood
Fernwood (Greater Victoria)
Fernwood is a neighbourhood near downtown Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, bounded by the neighbourhoods of Jubilee, North Park, Fairfield, Downtown, Oaklands and Harris Green.-Community:...
in Victoria as well.
Pearse died on June 17, 1902 of cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
in Victoria, British Columbia
Victoria, British Columbia
Victoria is the capital city of British Columbia, Canada and is located on the southern tip of Vancouver Island off Canada's Pacific coast. The city has a population of about 78,000 within the metropolitan area of Greater Victoria, which has a population of 360,063, the 15th most populous Canadian...
. He left money to a wide variety of philanthropic organizations and other facilities, notably contributing to Victoria College
Victoria College, British Columbia
Victoria College was a two-year college in Victoria, British Columbia founded in 1903 with sponsorship from McGill University. It was one of the first post-secondary institutions in British Columbia...
and helping to bring about the foundation of the school’s board of governors
Board of governors
Board of governors is a term sometimes applied to the board of directors of a public entity or non-profit organization.Many public institutions, such as public universities, are government-owned corporations. The British Broadcasting Corporation was managed by a board of governors, though this role...
.