Amor De Cosmos
Source: Wikipedia: Amor De Cosmos
Politics • Historical Archive • 🇨🇦 Canada • 1 views

Amor De Cosmos 🇨🇦

William Alexander Smith (Known as "Lover of the Universe")
Second Premier of British Columbia, Founder of The British Colonist, Confederation Leader
Born Aug 20, 1825 🇨🇦 Windsor (Nova Scotia), Canada
Passed Away Jul 04, 1897 Victoria (British Columbia), Canada
Lifespan 71 years old
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Notice / Correction
"We are laying the foundation of an empire on the Pacific coast destined to rival the greatest nations of the earth."

Archival Overview

Eccentric and visionary Nova Scotia-born journalist who legally changed his name to 'Lover of the Universe', founded The British Colonist, and led British Columbia into Confederation in 1871.

Biographical Record

Born William Alexander Smith, he had his name legally changed by the California legislature to Amor De Cosmos ('Lover of the Universe'). Arriving in Victoria during the Fraser Canyon Gold Rush in 1858, he founded The British Colonist, campaigning against Hudson's Bay Company rule.

De Cosmos founded the Confederation League in 1868, relentlessly arguing that British Columbia's future lay in union with Canada and a transcontinental railway. Serving as the province's second Premier (1872–1874) and federal MP, he secured the drydock at Esquimalt and Pacific railway construction.

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Final Resting Place

Perpetual Memorial
Ross Bay Cemetery
Victoria (British Columbia), Canada
GPS: 48.4097, -123.3444
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