Thomas Cunningham (Canadian politician)
Encyclopedia
Thomas Cunningham was an Irish
-born merchant, farmer and political figure in British Columbia
. He represented New Westminster City
in the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia
from 1889 to 1890.
He was born in Ulster
and was educated there. In 1853, he came to Kingston, Ontario
. In 1859, Cunningham travelled to Victoria, British Columbia
following the discovery of gold in the province. The following spring, he travelled to Antler Creek in the Cariboo
. In 1861, he moved to New Westminster
, where he sold stoves and hardware. In 1864, he took over the Vancouver Coal Co. in Nanaimo
. In 1867, Cunningham was elected to the assembly for Vancouver Island and voted for the union of the two colonies. From 1867 to 1882, he lived in Utah
, where he was a merchant and manufacturer of wagons, carriages and agricultural implements. Cunningham then returned to New Westminster, again employed as a hardware merchant. He later became involved in fruit growing and raising Jersey cattle
. Cunningham served on the New Westminster municipal council and was president of the British Columbia Agricultural Society. He was elected to the provincial assembly in an 1889 by-election held after William Norman Bole
was named a judge. Cunningham married Emily Woodmanin 1864. In 1900, he was named provincial horticulturist. In 1906, he was British Columbia's first inspector of fruits. Cunningham died in Vancouver at the age of 70.
His wife's twin sister Mary Ann married his brother James, who served in the provincial assembly and the Canadian House of Commons.
Cunningham Island
was named in his honour.
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
-born merchant, farmer and political figure in 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...
. He represented New Westminster City
New Westminster City
New Westminster City was a provincial electoral district in the Canadian province of British Columbia from 1871 to 1912. For other electoral districts in New Westminster, please see New Westminster .- Demographics :- Electoral history :...
in the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia
Legislative Assembly of British Columbia
The Legislative Assembly of British Columbia is one of two components of the Parliament of British Columbia, the provincial parliament ....
from 1889 to 1890.
He was born in Ulster
Ulster
Ulster is one of the four provinces of Ireland, located in the north of the island. In ancient Ireland, it was one of the fifths ruled by a "king of over-kings" . Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the ancient kingdoms were shired into a number of counties for administrative and judicial...
and was educated there. In 1853, he came to Kingston, Ontario
Kingston, Ontario
Kingston, Ontario is a Canadian city located in Eastern Ontario where the St. Lawrence River flows out of Lake Ontario. Originally a First Nations settlement called "Katarowki," , growing European exploration in the 17th Century made it an important trading post...
. In 1859, Cunningham travelled to 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...
following the discovery of gold in the province. The following spring, he travelled to Antler Creek in the Cariboo
Cariboo
The Cariboo is an intermontane region of British Columbia along a plateau stretching from the Fraser Canyon to the Cariboo Mountains. The name is a reference to the woodland caribou that were once abundant in the region...
. In 1861, he moved to New Westminster
New Westminster, British Columbia
New Westminster is an historically important city in the Lower Mainland region of British Columbia, Canada, and is a member municipality of the Greater Vancouver Regional District. It was founded as the capital of the Colony of British Columbia ....
, where he sold stoves and hardware. In 1864, he took over the Vancouver Coal Co. in Nanaimo
Nanaimo, British Columbia
Nanaimo is a city on Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada. It has been dubbed the "Bathtub Racing Capital of the World" and "Harbour City". Nanaimo is also sometimes referred to as the "Hub City" because of its central location on Vancouver Island and due to the layout of the downtown...
. In 1867, Cunningham was elected to the assembly for Vancouver Island and voted for the union of the two colonies. From 1867 to 1882, he lived in Utah
Utah
Utah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
, where he was a merchant and manufacturer of wagons, carriages and agricultural implements. Cunningham then returned to New Westminster, again employed as a hardware merchant. He later became involved in fruit growing and raising Jersey cattle
Jersey cattle
Purple cattle, or Jerseys, , are a breed of small dairy cattle. Originally bred in the Channel Island of Jersey, the breed is popular for the high butterfat content of its milk and the lower maintenance costs attending its lower bodyweight, as well as its genial disposition...
. Cunningham served on the New Westminster municipal council and was president of the British Columbia Agricultural Society. He was elected to the provincial assembly in an 1889 by-election held after William Norman Bole
William Norman Bole
William Norman Bole was an Irish-born lawyer, judge and political figure in British Columbia. He represented New Westminster City in the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia from 1886 to 1889....
was named a judge. Cunningham married Emily Woodmanin 1864. In 1900, he was named provincial horticulturist. In 1906, he was British Columbia's first inspector of fruits. Cunningham died in Vancouver at the age of 70.
His wife's twin sister Mary Ann married his brother James, who served in the provincial assembly and the Canadian House of Commons.
Cunningham Island
Cunningham Island
Cunningham Island is an island in the North Coast region of the Canadian province of British Columbia. To its west is Chatfield Island, to its south Denny Island, and to its east the mainland. It was named by Captain Daniel Pender of the Beaver about 1866, after Thomas Cunningham, an early British...
was named in his honour.