Charles_Frederick_Houghton
Charles Frederick Houghton
Canadian politician
Charles Frederick Houghton (27 April 1839 – 13 August 1898) was a Canadian rancher, justice of the peace, politician and soldier.
 | This article includes a list of references, related reading, or external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations. (May 2022) |
Charles Frederick Houghton | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Canadian Parliament for Yale District | |
| In office 1871–1872 | |
| Succeeded by | Replaced by Yale |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1839-04-27)27 April 1839 Glashare Castle, County Kilkenny, Ireland |
| Died | 13 August 1898(1898-08-13) (aged 59) Victoria, British Columbia, Canada |
| Political party | Liberal |
Born in County Kilkenny, Ireland, Charles Houghton was commissioned into the 57th Foot without purchase in 1855. In 1856 he was promoted lieutenant without purchase, and in 1858 he transferred into the 5th Foot; a month later he transferred into the 20th Foot. In 1861 he purchased a Captaincy. In 1863 he retired from the Army and emigrated to British Columbia, Canada, settling in the Okanagan valley. Through a military land grant, he established Coldstream Ranch that year, later transferring title to fellow officers Forbes George Vernon and Charles Albert Vernon.
In 1865 and 1866, he led expeditions to explore the Gold Range through to the Columbia River mines. In 1866, he was appointed justice of the peace. After British Columbia entered confederation he was elected to the House of Commons of Canada for the riding of Yale District in 1871.
After being promoted to lieutenant-colonel, he was appointed deputy adjutant-general of the militia for Military District No.11 (British Columbia) in 1873.[citation needed]
In 1877, he commanded a force of 60 men, reinforced by infantry and artillery from New Westminster and the gunboat HMS Grappler, in a failed attempt to remove striking colliers from Robert Dunsmuir's Wellington mine. Two years later, Houghton married Dunsmuir's daughter, Marion.[citation needed]
After his marriage and a half-year in Europe, Houghton was transferred to Manitoba where he organised the 90th (Winnipeg) Battalion of Rifles. He was passed over in favour of Major-General Frederick Dobson Middleton for command of the troops charged with suppressing the North-West Rebellion.
- Ormsby, Margaret A. (1990). "Houghton, Charles Frederick". In Halpenny, Francess G (ed.). Dictionary of Canadian Biography. Vol. XII (1891–1900) (online ed.). University of Toronto Press.
- Charles Frederick Houghton – Parliament of Canada biography
- Thomson, Duane (4 March 2015). "Coldstream". The Canadian Encyclopedia. Historica Canada.
- Charles Frederick Houghton fonds - Library and Archives Canada