August 12, 2003, marks the 200th anniversary of the birth of Sir James Douglas. Although he played an integral role in British Columbia's history, in many ways Douglas remains misunderstood and an enigma. He is known for his contradictory qualities — he was self-serving, racist, a military hawk, sometimes violent and arrogant. Yet he was also extremely community oriented, a humanitarian, brave and a devoted family member.

 

John Adam's bestseller Old Square-Toes and His Lady: The Life of James and Amelia Douglas serves as an important source of information regarding Douglas's public and private lives. As Adams writes, [the term] old square-toes characterizes him as an unbending, stodgy, boring individual, but nothing could be further from the truth.

 

At the pinnacle of his career, Douglas was knighted by order of Queen Victoria. Considering his modest, mixed-race beginnings in South America, his lofty status is, indeed, remarkable. Equally so is the life of his wife, Amelia. She was also of mixed blood, her mother being Cree and her father Irish. But unlike Douglas, who was educated in Scotland, she never left the northern forests until they married. Their ending up as a knight and lady of the British Empire was an unusual achievement.

 

Old Square-Toes discusses the Douglases' diverse experiences of astonishing contrasts, from crossing North America by canoe to touring Europe by train, from Native uprisings to the frantic gold rush. Besides finding glory, they also faced grief in losing seven of their beloved children. This is a story of the adventure, heartbreak, and devotion that lies at the roots of western Canada.

John Adams' profile page

Old Square Toes and His Lady: The Life of James and Amelia Douglas

Sir James Douglas was a fur-trader, governor of Vancouver Island and later, the Colony of British Columbia. This was deemed to be remarkable given his West Indian ancestry and his marriage to Amelia Connolly, who was part-Cree. Douglas arrived in Canada in 1819 to work in the fur trade. Amelia Connolly grew up in trading posts. In 1828 they were married in Fort St. James. Their success was hard-earned, enduring isolation, perilous journeys, epidemics and the deaths of seven of their children. Adams enriches Douglas’ historical trajectory with examples of his moral character and his attitudes towards aboriginal peoples. Amelia’s history provides insight into Cree customs and the lives of female colonists.

Caution: Contains some racist / stereotypical depictions of aboriginal people in historical context.

Old Square Toes and His Lady: The Life of James and Amelia Douglas

Sir James Douglas was a fur-trader, governor of Vancouver Island and later, the Colony of British Columbia. This was deemed to be remarkable given his West Indian ancestry and his marriage to Amelia Connolly, who was part-Cree. Douglas arrived in Canada in 1819 to work in the fur trade. Amelia grew up in trading posts. In 1828 they were married in Fort St. James. Their success was hard-earned, enduring isolation, perilous journeys, epidemics and the deaths of seven of their children. Adams enriches Douglas’ history with examples of his moral character and his attitudes towards aboriginal peoples. Amelia’s history provides insight into Cree customs and the lives of female colonists.

Caution: Contains some racist / stereotypical depictions of aboriginal people in historical context.