William James Armstrong
Encyclopedia
William James Armstrong was a merchant, miller and politician in British Columbia
. He represented New Westminster District from 1871 to 1878 and New Westminster City
from 1881 to 1884 in the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia
.
He was born in Peterborough, Ontario
, the son of William Armstrong, a native of Ireland
, and Elizabeth Brown, and was educated there. He moved to Grass Valley, California
, where he was involved in mining, with his family in 1852. In 1858, the family moved to Langley, British Columbia
. The following year, Armstrong settled in Queensborough (later New Westminster
) and opened a general store. He was elected to the first municipal council for New Westminster in 1860. In 1861, he married Honor Chenhalls Ladner. Armstrong was president of the municipal council (mayor) for New Westminster from 1866 to 1867 and from 1869 to 1871. He served in the provincial cabinet as Minister of Finance and Agriculture from 1872 to 1876. Armstrong was defeated when he ran for the New Westminster City seat in the assembly in 1878. He was reelected in a by-election held in 1881 after Ebenezer Brown
resigned his seat due to ill health. From 1881 to 1882, he served in the cabinet as Provincial Secretary. In 1884, he resigned his seat in the assembly to accept an appointment as sheriff for Westminster County.
Armstrong built a flour mill at New Westminster in 1867 and a sawmill in 1876. He also served as a justice of the peace
.
He died in New Westminster at the age of 89.
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 District from 1871 to 1878 and 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 :...
from 1881 to 1884 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 ....
.
He was born in Peterborough, Ontario
Peterborough, Ontario
Peterborough is a city on the Otonabee River in southern Ontario, Canada, 125 kilometres northeast of Toronto. The population of the City of Peterborough was 74,898 as of the 2006 census, while the census metropolitan area has a population of 121,428 as of a 2009 estimate. It presently ranks...
, the son of William Armstrong, a native of Ireland
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...
, and Elizabeth Brown, and was educated there. He moved to Grass Valley, California
Grass Valley, California
-2010:The 2010 United States Census reported that Grass Valley had a population of 12,860. The population density was 2,711.3 people per square mile . The racial makeup of Grass Valley was 11,493 White, 46 African American, 208 Native American, 188 Asian, 9 Pacific Islander, 419 from other...
, where he was involved in mining, with his family in 1852. In 1858, the family moved to Langley, British Columbia
Langley, British Columbia (city)
The City of Langley is a municipality in Metro Vancouver. It lies directly east of the City of Surrey, adjacent to Cloverdale, and surrounded on the north, east and south by Township of Langley.-History:...
. The following year, Armstrong settled in Queensborough (later 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 ....
) and opened a general store. He was elected to the first municipal council for New Westminster in 1860. In 1861, he married Honor Chenhalls Ladner. Armstrong was president of the municipal council (mayor) for New Westminster from 1866 to 1867 and from 1869 to 1871. He served in the provincial cabinet as Minister of Finance and Agriculture from 1872 to 1876. Armstrong was defeated when he ran for the New Westminster City seat in the assembly in 1878. He was reelected in a by-election held in 1881 after Ebenezer Brown
Ebenezer Brown
Ebenezer Brown was an English-born wholesale merchant and political figure in British Columbia. He represented New Westminster from 1875 to 1878 and New Westminster City from 1878 to 1881 in the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia.He was educated in England and came to British Columbia in...
resigned his seat due to ill health. From 1881 to 1882, he served in the cabinet as Provincial Secretary. In 1884, he resigned his seat in the assembly to accept an appointment as sheriff for Westminster County.
Armstrong built a flour mill at New Westminster in 1867 and a sawmill in 1876. He also served as a justice of the peace
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
.
He died in New Westminster at the age of 89.