Amor De Cosmos 1825-1897
Born William Alexander Smith, he changed his name, moved to Victoria during the gold rush, founded the British Colonist newspaper, and became a leading, eccentric champion for BC joining the Canadian Confederation.
Biographical Overview
- Lived from 1825 to 1897
- Born: Aug 20, 1825, Windsor, NS
- Died: Jul 4, 1897, Victoria, BC
Historical Events
- No referenced events linked
Entry Details
Related Online Resources
The British Colonist 1858-1980 (UVic)
On December 11th, 1858, in the midst of a gold rush, a man with the improbable name Amor de Cosmos inked up an old hand press and launched a newspaper -- the British Colonist -- into the world. Published in Victoria, it became the leading paper in the colonies of Vancouver Island and British Columbia, and was the paper for the province of British Columbia until the emergence of Vancouver and competitors in the 1890s.
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Last updated: 2026-09-29