George Archibald McTavish (December 14, 1856 – after 1886) was an American

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

-born farmer and political figure in British Columbia

British Columbia

British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...

. He represented Victoria

Victoria (British Columbia electoral district)

Victoria was a provincial electoral district in the Canadian province of British Columbia, and was one of the first twelve ridings at the time of that province's joining Confederation in 1871 and stayed on the hustings until 1890. From 1894 to 1963 it did not appear on the electoral map...

 in the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia

Legislative Assembly of British Columbia

The Legislative Assembly of British Columbia is one of two components of the Parliament of British Columbia, the provincial parliament ....

 from 1882 to 1886.

He was born in New York City

New York City

New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...

, the son of D. A. McTavish, who was manager of the Bank of British North America

Bank of British North America

The Bank of British North America was founded in 1835 in London, England with offices in Toronto, Montreal, Quebec City, Saint John, New Brunswick, Halifax and St. John's, Newfoundland. It also operated agencies in New York City and San Francisco. Like the other Canadian chartered banks, it issued...

 at New York. McTavish was educated there and came to British Columbia around the age of 16. In 1877, he married Catherine Amelia "Amy", the daughter of Doctor John Sebastian Helmcken

John Sebastian Helmcken

John Sebastian Helmcken was a British Columbia physician who played a prominent role in bringing the province into Canadian Confederation...

 and granddaughter of James Douglas

James Douglas (Governor)

Sir James Douglas KCB was a company fur-trader and a British colonial governor on Vancouver Island in northwestern North America, particularly in what is now British Columbia. Douglas worked for the North West Company, and later for the Hudson's Bay Company becoming a high-ranking company officer...

. McTavish served as president of the British Columbia Agricultural Association. He was a seed-producer and florist, and also raised livestock. McTavish owned a large farm in North Saanich

North Saanich, British Columbia

North Saanich is located on the Saanich Peninsula, approximately 25 km north of Victoria, British Columbia on southern Vancouver Island...

 but moved to Esquimalt

Esquimalt, British Columbia

The Township of Esquimalt is a municipality at the southern tip of Vancouver Island, in British Columbia, Canada. It is bordered to the east by the provincial capital, Victoria, to the south by the Strait of Juan de Fuca, to the west by Esquimalt Harbour and Royal Roads, to the northwest by the...

after his marriage. He was a founding member of the Victoria Yacht Club.