Ebenezer Brown

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Ebenezer Brown (c. 1824 – June 5, 1883)[1] was an English-born wholesale merchant and political figure in British Columbia. He represented New Westminster from 1875 to 1878 and New Westminster City from 1878 to 1881 in the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia.

He was educated in England and came to British Columbia in 1858. A stonemason, he erected the border monument at the Point Roberts-Tsawwassen boundary.[2]

Political life[edit]

He served on the municipal council for New Westminster. Brown was president of the province's Executive Council (the cabinet) from February to September 1876.[3] He resigned his seat in the assembly in November 1881 due to poor health.[4] Another version from a fellow MLA says he retired because of conflict of interest issues relating to railway developments.[2] Brown died two years later in New Westminster at the age of 59.[1]

Brownsville across the Fraser River from New Westminster was named after Ebenezer Brown[5] who built the first hotel there and also owned a wharf.[6]

Electoral results[edit]

1875 British Columbia general election: New Westminster
Party Candidate Votes % Elected
Independent Government Ebenezer Brown 154 26.15 Green tickY
Government William James Armstrong 153 25.98 Green tickY
Reform caucus Donald McGillivray 117 19.86
Reform caucus Jeremiah Rogers 2 111 18.84
Government William M. Campbell 54 9.17
Total valid votes 589 100.00
2 Noted lumberman on False Creek/English Bay

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "Vital Event Death Registration". BC Archives. Retrieved 2011-07-25.[permanent dead link]
  2. ^ a b letter from John C. Brown, another former MLA, January 14, 1927, quoted in Place Names of the Delta of the Fraser River, Denys Nelson, 1927, unpublished manuscript held in the Provincial Archives, quoted in BC Names entry "Brownsville (former locality)"]
  3. ^ Mackintosh, Charles H (1877). The Canadian parliamentary companion and annual register, 1877. p. 376. Retrieved 2011-07-25.
  4. ^ "Electoral History of British Columbia, 1871-1986" (PDF). Elections BC. Retrieved 2011-07-25.
  5. ^ "BCGNIS Query Results". Government of BC. Retrieved 2011-07-25.
  6. ^ "Brownsville: Once a key town in Surrey's Development; now a cornerstone in foreshore revitalization" (PDF). Fraser Valley Heritage Railway Society News. Fall 2001. p. 2. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-03-28. Retrieved 2011-07-25.

External links[edit]