Timeline

• Early Life: 1817:
  
  
• Richard Blanshard was born in England.
• He was educated at Downing College, Cambridge, where he studied law and graduated in 1838.


Pre-Governorship:


• After his graduation, Blanshard traveled and lived abroad, including periods in the West Indies and Spain.
• Before his appointment as governor, he was a relatively unknown figure in British politics and colonial affairs. His appointment was somewhat unexpected, as he lacked experience in colonial administration.


Governorship

1849:


• The Colony of Vancouver Island was established, with the Hudson's Bay Company (HBC) given the exclusive right to trade with the Indigenous peoples and mine for coal.
• Richard Blanshard was appointed as the first governor.


1850:


• Blanshard arrives in the colony aboard the HMS Driver.
• He finds that James Douglas, the chief factor of the HBC at Fort Victoria (and later governor), has already established himself as the dominant authority figure in the region. This sets the stage for a power struggle between Blanshard and the HBC.


1850-1851:


• Blanshard faces several challenges during his tenure. His authority is constantly undermined by the HBC and James Douglas. He receives little support from settlers, most of whom are connected with the HBC.
• He has conflicts with settlers over land issues and other matters. The colony's lack of infrastructure, the paucity of European settlers, and the dominance of the HBC make effective governance difficult.


1851:


• Frustrated by the lack of support and the challenges of governing, Blanshard resigns as governor. He writes to the Colonial Office, explaining the issues he faced, particularly the influence and control of the HBC in the colony's affairs.
• James Douglas is appointed as his successor. Given Douglas's dual role as the HBC's chief factor, this effectively consolidates the company's power in the colony.


1849:


• Appointed as the first governor of the Colony of Vancouver Island.
1850-1851:


• Faced challenges during his tenure, mainly due to the dominance of the Hudson's Bay Company. Resigned in 1851. Post-Governorship:


1857:


• Richard Blanshard did provide testimony regarding his experiences to a British parliamentary committee. He gave evidence to the Select Committee on the Hudson's Bay Company in 1857. In his testimony, he detailed the issues he faced during his tenure, especially the significant influence and dominance of the Hudson's Bay Company in the colony's affairs. Blanshard's testimony helped shed light on the challenges of establishing British colonial governance in regions where powerful companies had significant control.
• After resigning, Blanshard returned to England.
• He lived relatively quietly and did not take on any significant public roles following his experience in Vancouver Island. Death:



• Richard Blanshard passed away in 1894.