Philip Henry Nind
Encyclopedia
Philip Henry Nind was an English rower
and gold commissioner
in colonial British Columbia
.
Nind was born at Hawthorns, Berkshire
, the son of Rev. Philip Henry Nind and his wife Agnes Bussell . He was educated at Christ Church, Oxford
where he was a proficient rower. In the 1852 Boat Race, he rowed No 3 in the winning Oxford
boat stroked by J W Chitty. At Henley Royal Regatta
, he won Silver Goblets in 1852 partnering H R Barker
and was also a member of the winning Oxford four
in the Stewards' Challenge Cup
. In 1853 Nind was a member of the winning Oxford eight
in the Grand Challenge Cup
at Henley and was also again in the winning Oxford four in Stewards' Challenge Cup. He was a member of the crew in the winning Oxford Boat in the 1854 Boat Race.
In 1860 Nind took the position of Gold Commissioner and JP
for Cariboo
, British Columbia
as the Cariboo Gold Rush
was just getting under way. William Pinchbeck
accompanied Nind to Williams Lake
to create a local government and bring law and order to the area. Nind had originally considered Fort Alexandria for this purpose but chose Williams Lake instead as it was at a junction of two main pack trails: one from the Douglas Road
and another through the Fraser Canyon
. While stationed in the Cariboo Nind wrote voluminous letters and reports to Governor Douglas in Victoria, B.C., telling him about the many developments taking place in the district. In 1861 Nind had a government house built and requested the construction of a jail. By the middle of the year he was severely overworked causing him insomnia and a nervous twitch, In October he requested leave and in December went to England. It took three men to replace him in the work he had been doing. He was succeeded as gold commissioner by Thomas Elwyn
until Elwyn resigned later in the year through conflict of interest in having his own claim. Nind returned to British Columbia with his new wife in 1863. When the gold escort was temporarily revived in 1863 Elwyn was made second in command to Nind Nind was moved around from one backwater post to another until he resigned in 1866.
In 1869 Nind and his wife moved to Australia. He was for a time in North Queensland
where he was active in exploration. On 4 October 1873 he accompanied George Elphinstone Dalrymple and Sub-Inspector Robert Johnstone in entering the Glady's River.
Nind returned to England and died at Thame
at the age of 64,
Rowing (sport)
Rowing is a sport in which athletes race against each other on rivers, on lakes or on the ocean, depending upon the type of race and the discipline. The boats are propelled by the reaction forces on the oar blades as they are pushed against the water...
and gold commissioner
Gold Commissioner
Gold Commissioner was an important regional administrative post in the Colony of British Columbia.In the 1860s, Governor Douglas had three priorities to protect the two colonies he governed: to protect the boundaries, to uphold law and order and to provide access to the gold fields...
in colonial 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...
.
Nind was born at Hawthorns, Berkshire
Berkshire
Berkshire is a historic county in the South of England. It is also often referred to as the Royal County of Berkshire because of the presence of the royal residence of Windsor Castle in the county; this usage, which dates to the 19th century at least, was recognised by the Queen in 1957, and...
, the son of Rev. Philip Henry Nind and his wife Agnes Bussell . He was educated at Christ Church, Oxford
Christ Church, Oxford
Christ Church or house of Christ, and thus sometimes known as The House), is one of the largest constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England...
where he was a proficient rower. In the 1852 Boat Race, he rowed No 3 in the winning Oxford
Oxford University Boat Club
The Oxford University Boat Club is the rowing club of the University of Oxford, England, located on the River Thames at Oxford. The club was founded in the early 19th century....
boat stroked by J W Chitty. At Henley Royal Regatta
Henley Royal Regatta
Henley Royal Regatta is a rowing event held every year on the River Thames by the town of Henley-on-Thames, England. The Royal Regatta is sometimes referred to as Henley Regatta, its original name pre-dating Royal patronage...
, he won Silver Goblets in 1852 partnering H R Barker
Henry Raine Barker
Henry Raine Barker was an English lawyer, banker and rower who won three events at Henley Royal Regatta in the same year in 1852...
and was also a member of the winning Oxford four
Coxed four
A coxed four is a rowing boat used in the sport of competitive rowing. It is designed for four persons who propel the boat with sweep oars and is steered by a cox....
in the Stewards' Challenge Cup
Stewards' Challenge Cup
The Stewards' Challenge Cup is a rowing event for men's coxless fours at the annual Henley Royal Regatta on the River Thames at Henley-on-Thames in England. It is open to male crews from all eligible rowing clubs. Two or more clubs may combine to make an entry....
. In 1853 Nind was a member of the winning Oxford eight
Eight (rowing)
An Eight is a rowing boat used in the sport of competitive rowing. It is designed for eight rowers, who propel the boat with sweep oars, and is steered by a coxswain, or cox....
in the Grand Challenge Cup
Grand Challenge Cup
The Grand Challenge Cup is a rowing competition for men's eights. It is the oldest and most prestigious event at the annual Henley Royal Regatta on the River Thames at Henley-on-Thames in England. It is open to male crews from all eligible rowing clubs...
at Henley and was also again in the winning Oxford four in Stewards' Challenge Cup. He was a member of the crew in the winning Oxford Boat in the 1854 Boat Race.
In 1860 Nind took the position of Gold Commissioner and JP
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...
for Cariboo
Cariboo
The Cariboo is an intermontane region of British Columbia along a plateau stretching from the Fraser Canyon to the Cariboo Mountains. The name is a reference to the woodland caribou that were once abundant in the region...
, 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...
as the Cariboo Gold Rush
Cariboo Gold Rush
The Cariboo Gold Rush was a gold rush in the Canadian province of British Columbia. Although the first gold discovery was made in 1859 at Horsefly Creek, followed by more strikes at Keithley Creek and Antler Horns lake in 1860, the actual rush did not begin until 1861, when these discoveries were...
was just getting under way. William Pinchbeck
William Pinchbeck
William Pinchbeck was one of the original settlers in the Cariboo region of British Columbia, Canada. He was a member of the British Columbia Provincial Police and owned a roadhouse and many other properties in Williams Lake, British Columbia.-Early years:Pinchbeck was born in Yorkshire, England...
accompanied Nind to Williams Lake
Williams Lake, British Columbia
Williams Lake, is a city in the Central Interior of British Columbia, Canada. Located in the central part of a region known as the Cariboo, it is the largest urban centre between Kamloops and Prince George, with a population of 11,150 in city limits....
to create a local government and bring law and order to the area. Nind had originally considered Fort Alexandria for this purpose but chose Williams Lake instead as it was at a junction of two main pack trails: one from the Douglas Road
Douglas Road
The Douglas Road, aka the Lillooet Trail, Harrison Trail or Lakes Route, was a goldrush-era transportation route from the British Columbia Coast to the Interior...
and another through the Fraser Canyon
Fraser Canyon
The Fraser Canyon is an 84 km landform of the Fraser River where it descends rapidly through narrow rock gorges in the Coast Mountains en route from the Interior Plateau of British Columbia to the Fraser Valley...
. While stationed in the Cariboo Nind wrote voluminous letters and reports to Governor Douglas in Victoria, B.C., telling him about the many developments taking place in the district. In 1861 Nind had a government house built and requested the construction of a jail. By the middle of the year he was severely overworked causing him insomnia and a nervous twitch, In October he requested leave and in December went to England. It took three men to replace him in the work he had been doing. He was succeeded as gold commissioner by Thomas Elwyn
Thomas Elwyn
Thomas Elwyn was a British soldier, police officer and gold commissioner in colonial British Columbia.Elwyn, born into a family with a long military tradition, served as a lieutenant in the 30th Foot during the Crimean war...
until Elwyn resigned later in the year through conflict of interest in having his own claim. Nind returned to British Columbia with his new wife in 1863. When the gold escort was temporarily revived in 1863 Elwyn was made second in command to Nind Nind was moved around from one backwater post to another until he resigned in 1866.
In 1869 Nind and his wife moved to Australia. He was for a time in North Queensland
North Queensland
North Queensland or the Northern Region is the northern part of the state of Queensland in Australia. Queensland is a massive state, larger than most countries, and the tropical northern part of it has been historically remote and undeveloped, resulting in a distinctive regional character and...
where he was active in exploration. On 4 October 1873 he accompanied George Elphinstone Dalrymple and Sub-Inspector Robert Johnstone in entering the Glady's River.
Nind returned to England and died at Thame
Thame
Thame is a town and civil parish in Oxfordshire, about southwest of the Buckinghamshire town of Aylesbury. It derives its toponym from the River Thame which flows past the north side of the town....
at the age of 64,