Robert Mann Parsons
Robert Mann Parsons | |
|---|---|
| Born | 29 September 1829 |
| Died | 20 May 1897 |
| Allegiance |  United Kingdom |
| Service/ | Royal Engineers |
| Rank | Major-General |
Major-General Robert Mann Parsons FRS (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).
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 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.[4]
Further reading
- "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".
- "Captain Robert Mann Parsons Collection [graphic material], Library and Archives, Government of Canada".
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 "Parsons, Captain Robert Mann". The Colonial Despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846–1871. University of Victoria. Retrieved 4 January 2026.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 "Profile for Robert Mann Parsons, Defence Surveyors' Association" (PDF).
- ↑ "Entry for Parsons Anchorage, The Encyclopedia of Raincoast Place Names, Know B. C."
- ↑ "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".
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- 1829 births
- 1897 deaths
- Graduates of the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich
- Royal Engineers officers
- British Army major generals
- Colony of British Columbia (1858–1866) people
- Pre-Confederation British Columbia people
- 19th-century British explorers
- English surveyors
- British explorers of North America
- Explorers of British Columbia
- Colony of British Columbia (1858–1866)
- New Westminster
- British fellows of the Royal Society
- People from Peckham
