Arthur Edward Kennedy

Arthur Edward Kennedy was of Irish gentry and served in the British army before being appointed Governor of Gambia and, later, Western Australia. In 1864, six weeks before the events at Bute Inlet, he was appointed Governor of Vancouver Island.

When Kennedy received news that the road party had been killed, he chose to send word to Governor Seymour via the regular mail steamer rather than dispatching one of the naval vessels at his disposal. The resulting two-day delay caused Seymour to complain to London about Kennedy's indifference.

In 1866, the colonies of Vancouver Island and British Columbia were united and Frederick Seymour was named governor of the new administration. Kennedy returned to London where he received a knighthood and held several other governorships.

Secondary Sources

Smith, Robert L. "Arthur Edward Kennedy." In Dictionary of Canadian Biography, vol. XII. Toronto: University of Toronto, 1990, 468-70.