In 1793, another Scot, Alexander MacKenzie, became the first European to visit the area by land.

Scot Simon Fraser discovered and named the Stuart River, and in 1808 was the first to descend the Fraser River, the principle waterway of British Columbia, to the sea where the city of Vancouver now stands.

Fort Vancouver was founded by Scot John McLoughlin in 1824.In 1843 James Douglas, the ‘father’ of British Columbia sent a fellow Scot named Finlayson to what is now Victoria to purchase the site from the Indians.

Scot Archibald MacDonald founded the first school in Vancouver in 1834

Scot Robert Dunsmuir, who went to British Columbia as a coal miner, became Vancouver’s first major capitalist.  At his death he was one of the richest men in North America.

Of the 8 men who served on the legislative council of Vancouver in its first decade (1850 – 59) no less 6 were Scots.

In 1866 Vancouver Island was united with the mainland territory under the name of British Columbia.  Sir James Douglas, the governor of Vancouver Island, was appointed governor of the united colony.  In British Columbia’s first century as a province at least 8 Scots have served as premier, holding office almost half the time.