Thomas Harris – Victoria’s First Mayor
British Columbia’s capital City had one of the most colorful and controversial figures serving as the first Mayor. His name was Thomas Harris, and he served three terms in office between 1862 and 1865.
A butcher by trade, he referred to himself as “just an ‘umble tradesman” who owned the first butcher’s shop in the city called “The Queen’s Market.” He loved to walk around town spouting his opinions to anyone who would listen— even long before he was elected Mayor. To emphasize his point, he used a buggy whip that he always carried with him.
He was born in Hertfordshire in England in 1817 and immigrated to California in 1853. By 1858 he had headed north to Vancouver Island because he could see there was far more ‘gold’ to be made as a merchant there than as a miner in the gold fields where everyone else was heading. At first, he operated a slaughterhouse on Wharf Street but because of a great demand for meat, especially by navy personnel, he opened The Queen’s Market butcher’s shop on Government Street.
By 1862 he decided to run for Mayor when Victoria was incorporated as a city. His campaign was forthright and simple. He admitted he was not well-educated but strongly believed in honest labor to get ahead in life.
Voting was also very simple in those days. Early in the morning of voting day, approximately 600 people assembled together, and nominations were called for. A Mr. C.B. Young nominated Alfred Waddington and a Member of Parliament, Mr. Trimble nominated Harris. Votes were counted by a show of hands! Only four or five hands were in favor of Waddington whereas what was described as “a perfect forest of hands” voted for Harris.
Thomas and his wife had two daughters, Eliza and Emily, and the family lived in a fine house at the corner of Bastion Square and Government Street. The mail and passenger ship the Emily Harris was named after their 12-year-old daughter. Both daughters later married well into the Thomas Wilson family. Harris himself had been able to accumulate a considerable fortune.
Thomas and his wife achieved a great deal for the city. Mrs. Harris worked for the under-privileged, especially the Female Infirmary and other charitable organizations.
During Harris’ three years in power, he was sometimes stubborn, hot-headed and held unpopular opinions. At one time he was even described as a dictator. However, he achieved a great deal of good for the city and helped ensure that Victoria became the provincial capital (in 1868) rather than New Westminster. In addition, the first gas lamps and a new fire engine appeared during his terms.
Despite all the good he did, he was mainly remembered for an amusing incident that occurred during the second council meeting when he suddenly disappeared under his desk. The chair he had been sitting on collapsed, not able to hold his considerable weight. Naturally the newspapers of the day made a great deal out of it.
Eventually, Harris lost most of his money due to his weakness for the horses. He gambled much of his fortune away at the local racecourse.
He died in November of 1884 at the age of 67. In 1959, a stone was placed at the foot of Harris Green on Pandora Street and a window was inserted in the Reformed Episcopal Church in his memory.