Forbes George Vernon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Forbes George Vernon
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| Member of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia for Yale | |
| In office 1875–1882 |
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| In office 1886–1894 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born | 21 August 1843 |
| Died | 20 January 1911 (aged 67) |
Forbes George Vernon (born August 21, 1843 – died January 20, 1911) was an important person in the early days of British Columbia, Canada. He was a retired Lieutenant from the British Army. Vernon served as a politician in the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia for many years. He represented the area called Yale. The city of Vernon in the Okanagan region is named after him.
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Early Life and Moving to British Columbia
Forbes George Vernon was born in Dublin, Ireland, in 1843. He was the third of five sons in his family. In 1863, when he was 20 years old, Vernon decided to move to British Columbia.
He came with his older brother, Charles Albert Vernon, and a friend, Charles Frederick Houghton. At that time, British Columbia offered large pieces of land for free to military settlers. This made it an attractive place for people like Vernon to start a new life.
Starting a Ranch
When Vernon arrived, he claimed a piece of land near where the city of Vernon is today. This first piece of land was about 160 acres. Over time, his property grew much larger.
It became a huge ranch known as the Coldstream Ranch. This ranch eventually covered about 13,000 acres (53 square kilometers). In 1891, Vernon sold this large ranch to Lord Aberdeen.
His Political Career
Forbes George Vernon was a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) for British Columbia. This means he was elected by people to represent them in the provincial government. He served two terms as an MLA.
His first term was from 1875 to 1882. After a break, he served again from 1886 to 1894. He represented the Yale area.
Cabinet Minister
Vernon also held important jobs in the provincial government's cabinet. In 1876, he became the Chief Commissioner of Lands and Works. This role involved managing the province's land and public construction projects. He held this position until 1878.
Later, he served as Chief Commissioner of Lands and Works again. This second time was from 1887 to 1894. After leaving politics, Vernon moved to London. From 1895 to 1899, he worked as the Agent General for British Columbia there. This role meant he represented the province's interests in London.
Family and Legacy
Forbes George Vernon married Katie Alma Branks in 1877. She was from California. Sadly, Katie died in 1885. They had two daughters together. Their names were Gladys Louise and Beatrice Alma Ashley.
Forbes George Vernon passed away in London in 1911. Today, he is remembered for his contributions to British Columbia. The city of Vernon in the northern Okanagan region was named in his honor.
