Robert Mann Parsons (29 September 1829 – 20 May 1897) was a British Royal Engineer who was one of seven officers of the elite Royal Engineers, Columbia Detachment, that founded British Columbia as the Colony of British Columbia (1858–1866).
Robert Mann Parsons | |
|---|---|
| Born | 29 September 1829 |
| Died | 20 May 1897 (aged 67) |
| Allegiance |  United Kingdom |
Branch | Royal Engineers |
Rank | Major-General |
He was born on 29 September 1829[1] in Peckham, Surrey.[2]
He was educated at the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich,[1] and commissioned into the Royal Engineers as a second lieutenant on 1 October 1847.[2] He was promoted to lieutenant on 21 Sept 1850, to second captain on 23 February 1856, to captain on 1 April 1862, to major on 5 July 1872, to lieutenant-colonel on 8 March 1873, to colonel on 8 March 1878, to major-general on 29 October 1879, when he retired.[2][1]
He arrived in British Columbia on 29 October 1858, in command of the first group of the Columbia Detachment,[1][2] in which he was employed for his 'expert knowledge of survey'. He was in charge of the lithographic press of British Columbia 1861 - 1863.[2][1]
Parsons Anchorage in British Columbia (52˚31'00" 128˚44'00" Head of Kitasu Bay, West of Swindle Island, Northwest of Bella Bella) is named after him.[3]
He was Superintendent of the Ordnance Survey Office at Southampton, England, during 1869.[2] He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society on 2 June 1870.[4]
He resided at 21 Hyde Vale, Greenwich, Kent, and died at Greenwich[1] on 20 May 1897, leaving assets worth £10,945 17s (about £1 million in 21st century money).[2] The records of his service are held by the British National Archives.[5]
Further reading
editReferences
edit- 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Parsons, Captain Robert Mann". The Colonial Despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846–1871. University of Victoria. Retrieved 4 January 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Profile for Robert Mann Parsons, Defence Surveyors' Association" (PDF).
- ↑ "Entry for Parsons Anchorage, The Encyclopedia of Raincoast Place Names, Know B. C."
- ↑ "Fellows of the Society". Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society. 161: 20. 1871.
- ↑ "Entry for Name: Robert Mann Parsons. Rank: Major General. Date of Service: 1796-1860. Reference No. WO 25/3913/201, The National Archives of the UK".