Thomas Wilson Paterson

After moving to British Columbia in 1885,[2] he helped to build the Esquimalt & Nanaimo Railway line on Vancouver Island.[1] In 1895, he became general manager of the Victoria and Sidney Railway.[1] In 1897, Paterson filed for and was granted a patent for a spark catcher and smoke burner for locomotives.[3] The following year, he filed for a patent in the United States as well.[4]

In 1902, Paterson ran as an independent candidate in a byelection for the provincial riding of North Victoria prompted by the death of the incumbent, John Paton Booth. He defeated a government-aligned candidate by 43 votes (12% of the votes cast). For the 1903 election, the North Victoria riding was abolished during redistribution, and Thomas ran as a Liberal candidate in the newly created riding of The Islands. He defeated a Conservative candidate by 67 votes (19% of the votes cast). In the 1907 election, a new Conservative candidate won by 6 votes (2%of votes cast), and Thomas was unseated.[5]

In 1907, he was defeated when running for mayor of Victoria.

From 1909 to 1914, he was the Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia. In 1912, he presented a cup to the Pacific Coast Hockey Association.[6] The cup was first won by the New Westminster Royals, who were PCHA champions in the PCHA's first season.[7]

Born in Darvel, Scotland,[8] he immigrated to Canada with his parents. He was raised in Ontario.[1]

Paterson married Emma Elizabeth Riley, the daughter of George Riley in Victoria on November 25, 1886.[9] Paterson retired in 1914. He died in Victoria on August 28, 1921,[10] and was buried in Ross Bay Cemetery.[11]