Monarch Edward VII
George V Preceded by new member Preceded by John Paton Booth Died August 28, 1921 | Preceded by James Dunsmuir Role Politician Premier Richard McBride Name Thomas Paterson | |
 | ||
Governor General The Earl Grey
the Duke of Connaught and Strathearn Political party British Columbia Liberal Party | ||
Succeeded by Francis Stillman Barnard | ||
Thomas Wilson Paterson (6 December 1850 – 28 August 1921) was a Canadian railway contractor, politician, and the ninth Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia.
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Railway career
After moving to British Columbia in 1885, he helped to build the Esquimalt & Nanaimo Railway line on Vancouver Island. In 1895, he became general manager of the Victoria and Sidney Railway. In 1897, Paterson filed for and was granted a patent for a spark catcher and smoke burner for locomotives. The following year, he filed for a patent in the United States as well.
Political career
In 1902, Paterson ran as an independent candidate in a byelection for the provincial riding of North Victoria prompted by the death of the incumbent, John Paton Booth. He defeated a government-aligned candidate by 43 votes (12% of the votes cast). For the 1903 election, the North Victoria riding was abolished during redistribution, and Thomas ran as a Liberal candidate in the newly created riding of The Islands. He defeated a Conservative candidate by 67 votes (19% of the votes cast). In the 1907 election, a new Conservative candidate won by 6 votes (2%of votes cast), and Thomas was unseated.
In 1907, he was defeated when running for mayor of Victoria.
From 1909 to 1914, he was the Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia. In 1912, he presented a cup to the Pacific Coast Hockey Association. The cup was first won by the New Westminster Royals, who were PCHA champions in the PCHA's first season.
Family and Personal Life
Born in Darvel, Scotland, he immigrated to Canada with his parents. He was raised in Ontario.
Paterson married Emma Elizabeth Riley, the daughter of George Riley in Victoria on November 25, 1886. Paterson retired in 1914. He died in Victoria on August 28, 1921, and was buried in Ross Bay Cemetery.