Blanshard, Richard

BLANSHARD, Richard, governor of Vancouver Island 1849–51 (b 19 Oct 1817, London, England; d there 5 June 1894). The son of a wealthy merchant, he obtained an MA from Cambridge Univ and was admitted to the bar but did not practise law, preferring to travel. When Vancouver Island became a colony (see VANCOUVER ISLAND, COLONY OF) in 1849, he was named its first governor. He arrived at FORT VICTORIA in Mar 1850 and almost immediately came into conflict with James DOUGLAS, the HBC chief factor. Blanshard's term in office was a disaster. He had nowhere to live, no salary and no authority over the HBC, and his health was poor. In a high-handed show of force he ordered 2 KWAKWAKA'WAKW (Kwakiutl) villages near FORT RUPERT destroyed following the apparent murder of 3 British naval deserters. Blanshard despised life in the colony. He resigned in disgust and in Sept 1851 left for home and retirement at his country estate in England.