Born in Guyana in 1803, the son of a free Creole woman and a Scottish plantation owner, James Douglas was a motivated self starter who placed a high value on education. Overcoming many obstacles, he worked his way up in the Hudson’s Bay Company and married Amelia Connolly, a Cree-Irish woman who became his life-long partner.
At the height of his career, James Douglas transitioned into politics, becoming the first governor of British Columbia. Today he is considered one of the province’s founding fathers.
Douglas College is proud to bear his name.