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DR. JOHN SEBASTIAN HELMCKEN (1824- 1920)
John Sebastian Helmcken was born in Whitechapel, London on June 5, 1824. John grew up as the oldest boy in a family of |
One day Dr. Graves, the family doctor was making a call at Helmcken home. He suggested to Mrs. Helmcken that John start working for him, so in 1837 John went to work as his errand boy. John was clever and worked hard, and Dr. Graves saw John's potential. In 1839, when John was fourteen, Dr. Graves suggested that John should apprentice under him, and learn to be a chemist and druggist. After two years had passed, Dr. Graves was impressed with John's progress, and suggested that John train to become a doctor. Though it would be a financial hardship for the family, his mother assured him "Never mind my son, you shall be a doctor if you like, even if I have to pawn my cloths to pay the cost. . ." John studied hard, and did very well at medical school. In 1845 he won first prize for practical Chemistry and second prize for Materia Medica at Guys hospital. In 1847 John was admitted as the Licentiate of the Apothecaries Company and won one of the two "Pupils Physical prizes."
In June of 1847, John Sebastian had the opportunity to sign up with the Hudson's Bay Company as their ship's surgeon. "The Prince Rupert" (as the ship was called), was to sail to York Factory, a company out post at the edge of Hudson's Bay. Though he didn't care for the harsh conditions at York factory, John still had a thirst for adventure. After John was admitted to the Royal College of Surgeons in September 1848, he set out to see the world. John nearly joined the navy, but was talked out of it and found work instead as a ship's surgeon on a voyage to Bombay, India. Once back in England, John was offered a position as surgeon for the Hudson's Bay Co. emigrants on their colony at Vancouver Island. After being assured the climate was more like England than his experience at Hudson's Bay's Fort York, John was sailing on the Norman Morrison in October 1849. Five months later, he arrived in Esquimalt, a Harbor in Victoria, BC. Little could John had known then how much he would contribute to the growth of the remote fort to the capital of the province in the Country of Canada.
It was there that he first laid eyes on Cecilia Douglas, daughter of Governor James Douglas, and his future bride.
But Helmcken only stayed at the Fort for two months before he was appointed as the Hudson's Bay Company surgeon to
Fort Rupert in May 1850. Here Governor Blanshard appointed him as Magistrate in June 1850 to deal with conflicts arising at the coal mine that was being established up there. Helmcken didn't enjoy his position arbitrating duties at Fort.Helmcken left Fort Rupert with ". . .a mixture of regret and pleasure." in December 1850. He was called to Fort Victoria to attend Blanchard, instead of going to work as Fort Vancouver's surgeon as originally intended.
In 1851, James Douglas replaced
Blanchard as Governor while retaining his post as Chief Factor for the Hudson's Bay. January 11, 1860, John received petitions asking him to stand for election from McKenzie and others. He was elected as a member for Esquimalt/Metchosin that year.In December 1852, John marries Chief Factor Douglas's daughter Cecilia at the Fort, ". . .but not before I could prove myself to be a single man of good character &c., which Mr. Douglas insisted on! This in due course came out from my mother and Dr. Graves and proved satisfactory."
John and Cecilia built their home Arbutus Lodge on land given by them from Douglas next to their property as a wedding present. They had seven children altogether, though three of them died in infancy. John worked for the Hudson's Bay Company for many years beyond his original five-year contract. He then opened up his private practice in downtown Victoria, where he became well known to the citizens of the community. Though chiefly devoted to his patients, politics would also play a much larger role in John's life than he could have previously imagined.
While the colony of Vancouver Island was being created, the British Government ordered James Douglas to create a government council. However, this new council lacked the power to legislate. Douglas was ordered from the Colonial Office to elect an assembly. John Helmcken was persuaded to run, and was elected as a member of the first Legislative Assembly of Vancouver Island for Esquimalt and Victoria in July 1856. He gave thefirst political address, (the oldest political speech in British Columbia on record) in the Colony at Craigflower farm.At the first session of the Assembly (August 12 1856) he was chosen as Speaker, a position he retained until the colony of Vancouver Island disbanded, and joined with British Columbia in 1866.
January 11, 1860, John received petitions asking him to stand for election from McKenzie and others. He was elected as a member for Esquimalt/Metchosinthat year. In December 1866, John was elected to the Legislative Council of BC for District #1(Victoria/Esquimalt). It was a few years later, in November 1868, that John was re-elected to the Legislative Council on an Anti-Confederation Platform, a position he would later change his mind on, when he became one of three negotiators from British Columbia who were sent to Ottawa to negotiate British Columbia's entry into the Country of Canada.In December 31/1869, John was appointed to the Executive Council of BC.
During this time, John also had big responsibilities in his medical career. In February 1862, John was elected President of the Board of Directors for the Royal Jubilee hospital, and held that position until March, 1872, as well as serving as Doctor to the Jail.
Helmcken was well thought of in political circles. Even the provinces first Lieutenant-GovernorJoseph Trutch had suggested John head the first provincial government. But John wished to leave political life, and focus solely on his medical practice. In April 1863, John was appointed Chief Traderof the Hudson's Bay Company, so no longer received salary from the Hudson's Bay and Puget Sound Company, but instead received a share of the uncertain trade profits. The Company underwent significant restructuring that decade, and the position was obsolete by April 1870. Also in 1863, the Hudson's Bay Company appointed John Surgeon at Victoriabut the pay was only $1000 a year. John's wife Cecilia died in 1865, leaving him a single father to four young children. John needed steady pay, and work that would leave him close to home. John did play an important role when he was appointed as Confederation Delegate to Ottawa. But when BC did enter Confederation in July 1871, John decided to retire from politics. Even a letter from Sir John Macdonald, the first Prime Minister of Canada, urging him to reconsider his decision, would not change John's mind. In July 1871, Helmcken replied to the Prime Minister . . ."I have always been an overrated man. Of my ability and capacity to carry on the Government I entertain very grave doubts. Educated under a very different system to that now introduced, I feel that I cannot change to suit the alteration and indeed loathe the very idea of having to become obsequious, if nothing more degrading, to keep a number of supporters together. In my profession the patients are my slaves - in the political profession I would become the slave."
John now focused his time and talent to play a prominent role in the formation of Medical Care in British Columbia. In January 1885, the British Columbia Medical Association was founded, and John was elected president. John continued practicing medicine as physician to the jail until retiring in 1910.
In addition to his medical and political talents, John Helmcken left many written records throughout his life, providing important insights into the events and times of his era. From 1887-1891, John wrote several articles for the Victoria Colonist newspaper about his early experiences. In 1892, John began writing his "Reminiscences", which was later to be published as The Reminiscences of Doctor John Sebastian Helmcken, after his daughter, Edith (Dolly) Helmcken gave permission in her will to have his manuscripts donated to the Provincial Archives. The provincial government bought Helmcken house.
John died September 1, 1920 at the age of 96. He was cremated in Vancouver, and his ashes were placed in Cecilia's tomb in Pioneer Squareon September 18, 1920. In August 1941, Helmcken house was opened as a historical museum - and remains the oldest house in British Columbia still on its original foundation. The plaque on the wall to the left of the doorway of Helmcken House reads "Helmcken House built 1852 by Dr. J.S. Helmcken, Pioneer Surgeon and Legislator. Arrived Victoria, 1850. Aided in negotiating Union of British Columbia with Canada, 1870."
Cecilia Helmcken
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CLASSROOM SUGGESTION: |
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ELEMENTARY AND JUNIOR HIGHSCHOOL: |
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Have students write their own "Reminiscences". What do they know about where they were born, how would they describe their parents, grandparents and brothers and sisters? Have the student interview relatives as well as recording their own observation. This is a good complement to creating a visual family tree. Have them write a paragraph or two about an incident at school they remember. |
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