Thomas Harris (politician)
| Thomas Harris | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Harris in Office | |
| Mayor of Victoria, British Columbia | |
| In office 1862–1865 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1818 England |
| Died | November 29, 1884 (aged 67) Victoria, British Columbia |
Thomas Harris (1818[1] – November 29, 1884[2]) was the first mayor of Victoria, British Columbia, serving from 1862 to 1865.
Born in Almeley, Herefordshire, Harris married Emily Dickinson, a widow, in Liverpool in 1848. Harris came to Victoria by way of California in 1858, at the height of the Cariboo gold rush. He ran a slaughterhouse for a time, then became a butcher shortly afterward and made his fortune.[1]
A jovial man who had an opinion on everything and wasn't afraid to tell whoever would listen, he was a likely candidate for election in 1862 when the town's father decided to incorporate the town. At election time, Harris won by "forest of hands" amid a group of 600 men. During his second official council meeting, the 300 pound (136 kg) Harris had a chair collapse under his own weight.
In 1873, he was named sergeant-at-arms for the provincial legislature. He was named high sheriff for Vancouver Island in 1876.[1]
Harris Green, an area within Victoria, is named after him.
His stepson Robert Dickinson took over the shop in New Westminster and served as mayor of that city.[1]