Thomas Wilson Paterson was born in Darvel, Ayr on 6 December 1850[1]. He was the son of William Paterson and Margaret Person.
At the time of the 1851 Scotland Census, William, Margaret, Elisabeth, Agnes, John, and Thomas Paterson were listed as living in Cunningham, Ayrshire[2].
Thomas married Emma Riley in Victoria, British Columbia on November 25, 1886[3].
At the time of the 1891 Canada Census, Thos and Emma Patterson were listed as living in Spallumcheen, British Columbia, along Emma's parents George and Mary A. Riley, Minnie Strickluna, and two other people[4]. At the time of the census, Thomas' occupation was listed as "Railway Contr".
In 1897, Thomas filed for and was granted a patent for a spark catcher and smoke burner for locomotives[5]. The following year, he filed for a patent in the United States as well[6].
At the time of the 1901 Canada Census, Thomas Wilson and Emma Elizabeth Paterson were listed as living in Victoria, British Columbia, along with a niece named Mary Strickluna, Emma's parents George and Mary A. Riley, and a Chinese servant named Hong. [7]. At the time of the census, Thomas' occupation was listed as "Contractor".
In 1902, Thomas ran as an independent candidate in a byelection for the provincial legislative assembly prompted by the death of the incumbent, John Paton Booth. He defeated a government-aligned candidate by 43 votes (12% of the votes cast). In the 1903 general 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 general election, a new Conservative candidate won by 6 votes (2% of votes cast), and Thomas was unseated[8].
At the time of the 1911 Canada Census, Thomas W. and Emma E. Paterson were listed as living in Government House, Victoria, along with five servants[9]. At the time of the census, Thomas' occupation was listed as "Lt. Gov.".
In 1912, Thomas presented a cup to the Pacific Coast Hockey Association. The cup was first won by the New Westminster Royals, who were PCHA champions in the PCHA's first season[10].
Thomas died in Victoria on August 28, 1921[11][12], and was buried in Ross Bay Cemetery[13].
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Categories: Darvel, Ayrshire | Esquimalt and Nanaimo Railway | Lieutenant Governors of British Columbia | Members of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia | Migrants from Scotland to Canada | Railway Contractors | Ross Bay Cemetery, Victoria, British Columbia | Victoria and Sidney Railway | Victoria, British Columbia