Henry Thomas Lewis (ca. 1842 – unknown).

Lewis matriculated at Queen’s College, Cambridge Michaelmas Term in 1853 and moved to Saint John College Cambridge on 29 January 1856. He graduated in 1859.

Lewis arrived in British Columbia in March 1863 where he worked for hire in the Cariboo mines. Later that year he came to Vancouver Island where he worked at the Goldstream mines, blasting rock.

In May 1864 he applied for a position within the Vancouver Island Exploring Expedition. In his application letter he wrote; “I am a good shot with fowling piece and average with rifle, and capable of enduring fatigue and hardship.” The address signed as; “Dr. Chipp, Government Street.”

Lewis got a position at the very last moment, granted to fill up a vacancy caused by Mr. William Parker Shelley who at the very last moment had chosen to retire. On 1 June he was formally appointed as “pioneer” of the VIEE. He was not the best acquisition of the VIEE. Being one of the youngest, theorist and less experienced, Commander Robert Brown once wrote; “We indulge him any such cheap display of pedantry.” Lewis journals were the shortest of all, poorly written and contained many factual errors.

After his VIEE participation he hasn’t been heard of so it is unknown what he did after or where or when he died.

 

Copyright © July 2014, Bart van den Berk.

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[Annotated and edited from the following main sources, in order of usage.]

Brown, Robert, MS-0794, Robert Brown Papers, British Columbia Archives, Victoria, Canada. Vol.1, file 4, Contract for monthly stipend of members of the expedition for five months, 1 June 1864; 2 pages.

Brown, Robert, MS-0794, Robert Brown Papers, British Columbia Archives, Victoria, Canada. Vol.1, file 5, Pledge of members of the expedition, 31 May 1864; 2 pages. Meade’s name was later added and signed by him.

Brown, Robert, MS-0794, Robert Brown Papers, British Columbia Archives, Victoria, Canada. Vol.1, file 6, Report of the exploration sub-committee to the chairman and members of the General Committee, 1 June 1864; 5 pages.

Brown, Robert, MS-0794, Robert Brown Papers, British Columbia Archives, Victoria, Canada. Vol.3, file 4, Vancouver Island Exploration Committee: applications for positions on exploring expedition, 1864; 80 pages.

Hayman, John, Robert Brown and the Vancouver Island Exploring Expedition, Vancouver: UBC Press, 1989; 211 pages.

—-, Alumni cantabrigienses Volume 2, Part 4, Cambridge; Cambridge University Press 1951; page 162.

Brown, Robert, The First Journey of Exploration across Vancouver Island, Article: 1, pages 254, 255; 2, pages 274-276; 3, pages 302-304; 4 pages 349-351. from; Bates, Henry Walter, Illustrated Travels: a record of Discovery, Geography, and Adventure, London: Cassell, Petter & Calpin, 1869, 378 pages.

 

(Keyword) biography Henry Thomas Lewis