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Frederick Seymour | |
|---|---|
 Seymour, as Governor of British Columbia | |
| Governor of Crown Colony of British Columbia | |
| In office 1864–1866 | |
| Preceded by | James Douglas |
| Succeeded by | position abolished |
| Governor of the United Colonies of Vancouver Island and British Columbia | |
| In office 1866–1869 | |
| Succeeded by | Anthony Musgrave |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 6 September 1820 Belfast, Ireland |
| Died | 10 June 1869 (aged 48) Bella Coola, British Columbia |
| Occupation | colonial administrator |
Frederick Seymour (6 September 1820 – 10 June 1869) was a colonial administrator. After receiving little education and no inheritance from his father, Seymour was offered a junior appointment in the colonial service by Prince Albert. Seymour held positions in various British colonies from 1842 to 1863, when he returned to England.
From 1864 to 1866, he served as the second Governor of the Colony of British Columbia and succeeded Sir James Douglas. He would enter government at a time of unrest, with the Fraser River gold rush causing violence within the colony, and he had to deal with large debts left over from Douglas's time as governor.
During his time as governor, Seymour was involved in the aftermath of the Chilcotin Uprising and improved relations with local indigenous groups of British Columbia. He believed the colony would endure as its own entity and constantly invested in different initiatives that he hoped would further the economic growth of the colony from the construction of roads to bringing infrastructure to British Columbia.
Seymour played a major role in the development of the constitution that would be used to unite British Columbia and Vancouver Island, despite his opposition. Seymour continued to serve as the first governor of the union of the two colonies, also named the Colony of British Columbia, from 1866 to 1869. He also was a key player in developing, creating and cementing a relationship with the indigenous nations such as the sto:lo.