"It is the bold, resolute, strong, self-reliant man, who fights his own way through every obstacle and wins the confidence and respect of his fellows. As with men, so it is with nations." - James Douglas
James Douglas deserves the title 'Father of British Columbia'. He lived by the saying above; Douglas was a very determined man who rose to the top without much money, moral support, and materials. At the young age of nine, James Douglas was taken away from his mother. His father moved him and his brother from Guyana to Scotland; after this Douglas never saw his mother again. Then later on, at the age of sixteen, Douglas moved to Canada and became an apprentice for the North West Company. Douglas, was a remarkable man. He was self-educated…show more content… Soon after the Northwest Company and its rival, the Hudson's Bay Company (HBC) merged, James Douglas had climbed the hierarchy becoming the Hudson's Bay Company Chief Factor. Douglas helped the HBC establish a trade monopoly in the Pacific Northwest from 1821-1858. Moreover, being a trusted, confident, and decisive man Douglas was sent to Vancouver Island to relocate the Hudson's Bay fort (he was needed to ensure that this fort would not become American property). March 14, 1843 Douglas founded Fort Victoria, the new capital of Vancouver Island. In 1851, James Douglas was appointed the second Governor of the Colony of Vancouver Island. He also founded the Colony of British Columbia and was made its Governor. In addition, when the 1858 Gold Rush arrived in British Columbia, Douglas prevented chaos from erupting. He saw that the Americans were coming up from the south and was worried that they would find the gold and take over the entire territory, so he toke action. He made it that only those who had a license, under his authority, could claim mines. Douglas also hired policemen, made mining rules, and visited the sites himself to ensure everything was in order. He did all this with no…show more content… He created water regulations, settled mining disputes and did much more for the well being of miners. Finally, James Douglas built the Douglas Trail and the Cariboo Wagon Road. The Cariboo Wagon road permitted trade and ensured that it was done on British land under British laws. Because of this road links with the mother country were strengthened and it seemed possible that travel across the continent was possible. Although many saw Douglas to be inconsiderate and rude he was a good man. In his family life he allowed his feelings to show: when his daughter Cecilia died Douglas said, "She was the joy of my eyes, the light of my life; her ear was ever open to the calls of distress; the poor and afflicted never appealed to her in vain; they will miss her sympathizing heart and helping hand." Also, he looked up to God to find the strength and courage he needed to succeed: "We are all poor frail creatures when left to ourselves; our sufficiency is of the Lord; we must look to him for strength and guidance in the hour of trial. His power is sufficient for us…" Overall, Douglas did what he had to make the Colony of British Columbia successful and