The Curious Passage of Richard Blanshard: First Governor of Vancouver Island

Witness to Yesterday (The Champlain Society Podcast on Canadian History)

Larry Ostola talks to Barry Gough about his book, The Curious Passage of Richard Blanshard: First Governor of Vancouver Island. This biography by historian Barry Gough focuses on Richard Blanshard, the first governor of Vancouver Island, and explores the early days of Canada's westernmost province. Blanshard arrived on Vancouver Island in 1850, after a long sea voyage, to begin his short and troubled tenure as governor. His time in office, lasting only three years, was marked by conflict with the powerful Hudson’s Bay Company and its leader, James Douglas, who succeeded him as governor. Despite his pivotal role in alerting London to American threats, Blanshard's tenure was unsuccessful, overshadowed by political and cultural challenges. His story sheds light on the struggles of early colonial governance, the influence of commerce, and the clash of European and Pacific Northwest cultures. Barry Gough is one of Canada’s premier historians and biographers. His insightful research and lucid writing spanning five decades have earned him high distinction. Among his awards are the Canadian Historical Association’s Clio Prize, the Maritime Foundation’s Mountbatten Award, the Washington Historical Society’s Robert Gray Medal, the Alcala Galiano Medal and the Keith Matthews Award. In 2022, he was awarded the Lieutenant Governor’s Medal for Historical Writing for Possessing Meares Island. He is a Fellow of the Society for the History of Discoveries. Image Credit: Harbour Publishing If you like our work, please consider supporting it: bit.ly/support_WTY. Your support contributes to the Champlain Society’s mission of opening new windows to directly explore and experience Canada’s past.