Richard Moody
Encyclopedia
Major-General Richard Clement Moody (13 February 1813 – 31 March 1887) was a Lieutenant-Governor, and later Governor, of the Falkland Islands
, and the first Lieutenant-Governor of the Colony of British Columbia
. While serving under this post, he selected the site of the new capital, New Westminster. Moody was also a Colonel in the Royal Engineers
, and was the commander of the Columbia Detachment, the force that was brought to BC to establish British order during the Fraser Canyon Gold Rush
.
, West Indies, the son of a Royal Engineer and Colonial Office
administrator. When he was fourteen, he enrolled in the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich and in 1830 he was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Royal Engineers
. He served in Ireland and in the West Indies before returning to the Academy to teach classes in fortifications.
In 1841, Moody was appointed lieutenant governor
of the Falkland Islands. He wrote a report on the islands that earned him some attention and in 1843 was named governor and commander-in-chief of the islands. Though he was popular, Moody did little of lasting value during his tenure in the Falklands: he organised neither a survey nor a tenure system.
Moody returned to England in 1849 and was promoted to Captain. He served for a while with the Colonial Office, commanded Newcastle upon Tyne
where he married Mary Hawks in 1852, and finally was posted to Malta, where he was elevated to the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel. He oversaw the Royal Engineers' restoration of Edinburgh Castle, earning a strong reputation in the ministry.
. He was appointed Lieutenant Governor and Commissioner of Lands and Works for the colony. Upon his arrival he hired Robert Burnaby
as his personal secretary, and the two became close friends.
Moody had hoped to immediately get to the work of laying out a capital city, but upon his arrival at Fort Langley he learned of an outbreak of violence at the settlement of Hill's Bar. This led to an incident popularly known as "Ned McGowan's War
", where Moody faced down a group of rebellious American miners, but soon the Engineers' task was turned to preparing for settlement of the area.
Following the enactment of the Pre-emption Act of 1860, Colonel Moody and his engineers assisted the process of settling the Lower Mainland
by surveying the area surrounding the capital "Queenborough" (rechristened New Westminster by Queen Victoria on 20 July 1859). Moody had chosen the site, on the north bank of the Fraser River
, for its strategic control of the mouth of the river, it defensibility, and its suitability as a port, but he was also struck by its natural beauty, writing, "The entrance to the Frazer is very striking-- Extending miles to the right & left are low marsh lands (apparently of very rich qualities) & yet fr the Background of Superb Mountains-- Swiss in outline, dark in woods, grandly towering into the coulds there is a sublimity that deeply impresses you. Everything is large and magnificent."
The Pre-emption act did not specify conditions for distributing the land, so large parcels were snapped up by speculators, including 3,750 acres (1,517 hectares) by Moody himself. Roundly criticised by newspapermen such as Amor de Cosmos
for land-grabbing and conflict of interest, Moody was shamed into selling much of his land off to settlers.
Moody and the Royal Engineers also built an extensive road network, including what would become Kingsway
, connecting New Westminster to False Creek
and North Road between Port Moody and New Westminster. As part of the surveying effort, several tracts were designated "government reserves", which included Stanley Park
as a military reserve (a strategic location in case of an American invasion).
By 1860, the colonial office was expressing misgivings with the cost of contingent as well as the wisdom of entrusting Moody with civil responsibilities. The Columbia Detachment was disbanded in July, 1863. Apart from the Moody family, only 22 men and 8 wives returned to England
, while the rest, 130 sappers, elected to remain in BC. Chartres Brew
replaced Moody as land commissioner.
Falkland Islands
The Falkland Islands are an archipelago in the South Atlantic Ocean, located about from the coast of mainland South America. The archipelago consists of East Falkland, West Falkland and 776 lesser islands. The capital, Stanley, is on East Falkland...
, and the first Lieutenant-Governor of the Colony of British Columbia
Colony of British Columbia
The Colony of British Columbia was a crown colony in British North America from 1858 until 1866. At its creation, it physically constituted approximately half the present day Canadian province of British Columbia, since it did not include the Colony of Vancouver Island, the vast and still largely...
. While serving under this post, he selected the site of the new capital, New Westminster. Moody was also a Colonel in the Royal Engineers
Royal Engineers
The Corps of Royal Engineers, usually just called the Royal Engineers , and commonly known as the Sappers, is one of the corps of the British Army....
, and was the commander of the Columbia Detachment, the force that was brought to BC to establish British order 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...
.
Early career
Moody was born at St Ann’s Garrison, BarbadosBarbados
Barbados is an island country in the Lesser Antilles. It is in length and as much as in width, amounting to . It is situated in the western area of the North Atlantic and 100 kilometres east of the Windward Islands and the Caribbean Sea; therein, it is about east of the islands of Saint...
, West Indies, the son of a Royal Engineer and Colonial Office
Colonial Office
Colonial Office is the government agency which serves to oversee and supervise their colony* Colonial Office - The British Government department* Office of Insular Affairs - the American government agency* Reichskolonialamt - the German Colonial Office...
administrator. When he was fourteen, he enrolled in the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich and in 1830 he was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Royal Engineers
Royal Engineers
The Corps of Royal Engineers, usually just called the Royal Engineers , and commonly known as the Sappers, is one of the corps of the British Army....
. He served in Ireland and in the West Indies before returning to the Academy to teach classes in fortifications.
In 1841, Moody was appointed lieutenant governor
Lieutenant governor
A lieutenant governor or lieutenant-governor is a high officer of state, whose precise role and rank vary by jurisdiction, but is often the deputy or lieutenant to or ranking under a governor — a "second-in-command"...
of the Falkland Islands. He wrote a report on the islands that earned him some attention and in 1843 was named governor and commander-in-chief of the islands. Though he was popular, Moody did little of lasting value during his tenure in the Falklands: he organised neither a survey nor a tenure system.
Moody returned to England in 1849 and was promoted to Captain. He served for a while with the Colonial Office, commanded Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne is a city and metropolitan borough of Tyne and Wear, in North East England. Historically a part of Northumberland, it is situated on the north bank of the River Tyne...
where he married Mary Hawks in 1852, and finally was posted to Malta, where he was elevated to the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel. He oversaw the Royal Engineers' restoration of Edinburgh Castle, earning a strong reputation in the ministry.
British Columbia
Shortly after his promotion to brevet Colonel in 1858, Moody was placed in command of the Columbia detachment of the Royal Engineers that was formed to be stationed in British ColumbiaColony of British Columbia
The Colony of British Columbia was a crown colony in British North America from 1858 until 1866. At its creation, it physically constituted approximately half the present day Canadian province of British Columbia, since it did not include the Colony of Vancouver Island, the vast and still largely...
. He was appointed Lieutenant Governor and Commissioner of Lands and Works for the colony. Upon his arrival he hired Robert Burnaby
Robert Burnaby
Robert Burnaby was amerchant, politician and civil servant in British Columbia. The city of Burnaby, British Columbia is named for him, as well as at least ten other urban and geographical features, including a mountain, a lake, a park, a Queen Charlotte Island and a street in Vancouver.Burnaby...
as his personal secretary, and the two became close friends.
Moody had hoped to immediately get to the work of laying out a capital city, but upon his arrival at Fort Langley he learned of an outbreak of violence at the settlement of Hill's Bar. This led to an incident popularly known as "Ned McGowan's War
McGowan's War
McGowan's War was a bloodless war that took place in Yale, British Columbia in the fall of 1858. The conflict posed a threat to the newly-minted British authority on the British Columbia mainland, which had only just been declared a colony the previous summer, at the onset of the Fraser Canyon Gold...
", where Moody faced down a group of rebellious American miners, but soon the Engineers' task was turned to preparing for settlement of the area.
Following the enactment of the Pre-emption Act of 1860, Colonel Moody and his engineers assisted the process of settling the Lower Mainland
Lower Mainland
The Lower Mainland is a name commonly applied to the region surrounding and including Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. As of 2007, 2,524,113 people live in the region; sixteen of the province's thirty most populous municipalities are located there.While the term Lower Mainland has been...
by surveying the area surrounding the capital "Queenborough" (rechristened New Westminster by Queen Victoria on 20 July 1859). Moody had chosen the site, on the north bank of the Fraser River
Fraser River
The Fraser River is the longest river within British Columbia, Canada, rising at Fraser Pass near Mount Robson in the Rocky Mountains and flowing for , into the Strait of Georgia at the city of Vancouver. It is the tenth longest river in Canada...
, for its strategic control of the mouth of the river, it defensibility, and its suitability as a port, but he was also struck by its natural beauty, writing, "The entrance to the Frazer is very striking-- Extending miles to the right & left are low marsh lands (apparently of very rich qualities) & yet fr the Background of Superb Mountains-- Swiss in outline, dark in woods, grandly towering into the coulds there is a sublimity that deeply impresses you. Everything is large and magnificent."
The Pre-emption act did not specify conditions for distributing the land, so large parcels were snapped up by speculators, including 3,750 acres (1,517 hectares) by Moody himself. Roundly criticised by newspapermen such as Amor de Cosmos
Amor De Cosmos
Amor De Cosmos was a Canadian journalist, publisher and politician. He served as the second Premier of British Columbia.-Early life:...
for land-grabbing and conflict of interest, Moody was shamed into selling much of his land off to settlers.
Moody and the Royal Engineers also built an extensive road network, including what would become Kingsway
Kingsway (Vancouver)
Kingsway is a major road that crosses through the Canadian cities of Vancouver and Burnaby, British Columbia. Originally called Westminster Road, it was renamed Kingsway in 1913....
, connecting New Westminster to False Creek
False Creek
False Creek is a short inlet in the heart of Vancouver. It separates downtown from the rest of the city. It was named by George Henry Richards during his Hydrographic survey of 1856-63. Science World is located at its eastern end and the Burrard Street Bridge crosses its western end. False Creek is...
and North Road between Port Moody and New Westminster. As part of the surveying effort, several tracts were designated "government reserves", which included Stanley Park
Stanley Park
Stanley Park is a 404.9 hectare urban park bordering downtown Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. It was opened in 1888 by David Oppenheimer in the name of Lord Stanley of Preston, the Governor-General of Canada....
as a military reserve (a strategic location in case of an American invasion).
By 1860, the colonial office was expressing misgivings with the cost of contingent as well as the wisdom of entrusting Moody with civil responsibilities. The Columbia Detachment was disbanded in July, 1863. Apart from the Moody family, only 22 men and 8 wives returned to 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...
, while the rest, 130 sappers, elected to remain in BC. Chartres Brew
Chartres Brew
Chartres Brew was a Gold commissioner, Chief Constable and judge in the Colony of British Columbia, later a province of Canada....
replaced Moody as land commissioner.
Later years
Returning to England, Moody was soon promoted Regimental Colonel, and the Royal Engineers in Chatham were placed under his command. On January 25, 1866 he was promoted Major-General and retired.Sources
- Margaret A. Ormsby, "Richard Clement Moody" in Dictionary of Canadian BiographyDictionary of Canadian BiographyThe Dictionary of Canadian Biography is a dictionary of biographical entries for individuals who have contributed to the history of Canada. The DCB, which was initiated in 1959, is a collaboration between the University of Toronto and Université Laval...
Online, (2002)