Ebenezer Brown Explained

Ebenezer Brown ( - June 5, 1883)^[1] was an English-born wholesale merchant and political figure in British Columbia. He represented New Westminster from 1875 to 1878 and New Westminster City from 1878 to 1881 in the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia.

He was educated in England and came to British Columbia in 1858. A stonemason, he erected the border monument at the Point Roberts-Tsawwassen boundary.^[2]

Political life

He served on the municipal council for New Westminster. Brown was president of the province's Executive Council (the cabinet) from February to September 1876.^[3] He resigned his seat in the assembly in November 1881 due to poor health.^[4] Another version from a fellow MLA says he retired because of conflict of interest issues relating to railway developments.^[2] Brown died two years later in New Westminster at the age of 59.^[1]

Brownsville across the Fraser River from New Westminster was named after Ebenezer Brown^[5] who built the first hotel there and also owned a wharf.^[6]

Notes and References

1. Web site: Vital Event Death Registration . BC Archives . 2011-07-25 .
2. letter from John C. Brown, another former MLA, January 14, 1927, quoted in Place Names of the Delta of the Fraser River, Denys Nelson, 1927, unpublished manuscript held in the Provincial Archives, quoted in BC Names entry "Brownsville (former locality)"
3. Book: Mackintosh, Charles H . The Canadian parliamentary companion and annual register, 1877 . 1877 . 376 . Charles Herbert Mackintosh . 2011-07-25.
4. Web site: Electoral History of British Columbia, 1871-1986 . Elections BC . 2011-07-25.
5. Web site: BCGNIS Query Results . Government of BC . 2011-07-25 .
6. News: Brownsville: Once a key town in Surrey's Development; now a cornerstone in foreshore revitalization . 2 . Fraser Valley Heritage Railway Society News . Fall 2001 . 2011-07-25 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120328042853/http://www.fvhrs.org/newsl/Fall%202001.pdf . 2012-03-28 . dead .