Charles Hayward
Encyclopedia
Sir
Charles Hayward (May 12, 1839 – 1919) was the 25th mayor
of Victoria, British Columbia
, from 1900–1902. He had one of the more unusual professions: Starting off as a carpenter
, he went into the business of making coffin
s and turned that into a very successful funeral
business, one which remains today. Hayward's son Reginald
also served as mayor (1922–1924) and continued to expand the business. They remain the only father and son mayors in Victoria history.
He was born in Stratford
, Essex
, England
, the son of Charles Hayward and Harriet Tomlinson. He apprenticed as a carpenter and joiner and came to Victoria, British Columbia
in 1862. He first entered the contracting business and then, in 1867, became an undertaker. Hayward was also involved in mining, building and manufacturing. He served as an alderman in 1873, 1874 and 1899 and was also chairman of the school board and a justice of the peace
. Hayward married Sarah Chesney in 1862.
Sir
Sir is an honorific used as a title , or as a courtesy title to address a man without using his given or family name in many English speaking cultures...
Charles Hayward (May 12, 1839 – 1919) was the 25th mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of Victoria, British Columbia
Victoria, British Columbia
Victoria is the capital city of British Columbia, Canada and is located on the southern tip of Vancouver Island off Canada's Pacific coast. The city has a population of about 78,000 within the metropolitan area of Greater Victoria, which has a population of 360,063, the 15th most populous Canadian...
, from 1900–1902. He had one of the more unusual professions: Starting off as a carpenter
Carpenter
A carpenter is a skilled craftsperson who works with timber to construct, install and maintain buildings, furniture, and other objects. The work, known as carpentry, may involve manual labor and work outdoors....
, he went into the business of making coffin
Coffin
A coffin is a funerary box used in the display and containment of dead people – either for burial or cremation.Contemporary North American English makes a distinction between "coffin", which is generally understood to denote a funerary box having six sides in plan view, and "casket", which...
s and turned that into a very successful funeral
Funeral
A funeral is a ceremony for celebrating, sanctifying, or remembering the life of a person who has died. Funerary customs comprise the complex of beliefs and practices used by a culture to remember the dead, from interment itself, to various monuments, prayers, and rituals undertaken in their honor...
business, one which remains today. Hayward's son Reginald
Reginald Hayward (politician)
Reginald Hayward was a funeral director and political figure in British Columbia. He represented Victoria City in the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia from 1924 to 1933 as a Conservative. Hayward was Mayor of Victoria from 1922 to 1924.He was born in Victoria, the son of Charles Hayward....
also served as mayor (1922–1924) and continued to expand the business. They remain the only father and son mayors in Victoria history.
He was born in Stratford
Stratford, London
Stratford is a place in the London Borough of Newham, England. It is located east northeast of Charing Cross and is one of the major centres identified in the London Plan. It was historically an agrarian settlement in the ancient parish of West Ham, which transformed into an industrial suburb...
, Essex
Essex
Essex is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England, and one of the home counties. It is located to the northeast of Greater London. It borders with Cambridgeshire and Suffolk to the north, Hertfordshire to the west, Kent to the South and London to the south west...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, the son of Charles Hayward and Harriet Tomlinson. He apprenticed as a carpenter and joiner and came to Victoria, British Columbia
Victoria, British Columbia
Victoria is the capital city of British Columbia, Canada and is located on the southern tip of Vancouver Island off Canada's Pacific coast. The city has a population of about 78,000 within the metropolitan area of Greater Victoria, which has a population of 360,063, the 15th most populous Canadian...
in 1862. He first entered the contracting business and then, in 1867, became an undertaker. Hayward was also involved in mining, building and manufacturing. He served as an alderman in 1873, 1874 and 1899 and was also chairman of the school board and a justice of the peace
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
. Hayward married Sarah Chesney in 1862.