Robert Paterson Rithet
Encyclopedia
Robert Paterson Rithet was a Scottish
-born businessman and political figure in British Columbia
, Canada. He represented Victoria City
in the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia
from 1894 to 1898. Rithet was mayor of Victoria
from 1884 to 1885.
He was born in Cleuchhead near Applegarth in Dumfriesshire
, the son of John Rithet, a farmer, and Agnes Paterson, and was educated at Annan
. In 1862, Rithet came to Victoria where he prospected for gold and helped build roads in the Cariboo
district. He was hired by Gilbert Malcolm Sproat
in 1865. In 1870, he moved to J. Robertson Stewart's company; with the help of Andrew Welch, he took over the operation of the business the following year. Rithet married Elizabeth Jane Hannay Munro in 1875. He was vice-president of Albion Iron Works, owned flour mills in Vernon
and Enderby
, owned large farms and invested in real estate. Rithet served as a justice of the peace
and was involved in salmon canning and steamship lines. He also became president of the California and Hawaiian Sugar Refining Company. He died at home in Victoria at the age of 74.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
-born businessman 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...
, Canada. He represented Victoria City
Victoria City (provincial electoral district)
Victoria City was one of the first twelve provincial electoral districts in the province of British Columbia, Canada, upon its entry into Confederation that year. It was originally a four-member riding, and elected to the Legislature several prominent Members of the Legislative Assembly and...
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 1894 to 1898. Rithet was mayor of Victoria
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 1884 to 1885.
He was born in Cleuchhead near Applegarth in Dumfriesshire
Dumfriesshire
Dumfriesshire or the County of Dumfries is a registration county of Scotland. The lieutenancy area of Dumfries has similar boundaries.Until 1975 it was a county. Its county town was Dumfries...
, the son of John Rithet, a farmer, and Agnes Paterson, and was educated at Annan
Annan
-People:* Kofi Annan, , former Secretary-General of the United Nations * Kojo Annan, , Kofi Annan's son* Noel Annan, Baron Annan, was a member of the House of Lords and British academic...
. In 1862, Rithet came to Victoria where he prospected for gold and helped build roads in the 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...
district. He was hired by Gilbert Malcolm Sproat
Gilbert Malcolm Sproat
Gilbert Malcolm Sproat was a Scottish-born Canadian businessman, office holder, and author. Arriving on Vancouver Island in 1860, he helped to found the first sawmill in Port Alberni, British Columbia. On 24 July. 1863 he was made the justice of the peace for the Colony of Vancouver Island...
in 1865. In 1870, he moved to J. Robertson Stewart's company; with the help of Andrew Welch, he took over the operation of the business the following year. Rithet married Elizabeth Jane Hannay Munro in 1875. He was vice-president of Albion Iron Works, owned flour mills in Vernon
Vernon, British Columbia
Vernon is a city in the south-central region of British Columbia, Canada. Named after Forbes George Vernon, a former MLA of British Columbia who helped found the famed Coldstream Ranch, the City of Vernon was incorporated on December 30, 1892. The City of Vernon has a population of 35,944 , while...
and Enderby
Enderby, British Columbia
The City of Enderby is in the North Okanagan of the Canadian province of British Columbia, between Armstrong and Salmon Arm. It is approximately 80 km north of Kelowna and 130 km east of Kamloops...
, owned large farms and invested in real estate. Rithet served as 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...
and was involved in salmon canning and steamship lines. He also became president of the California and Hawaiian Sugar Refining Company. He died at home in Victoria at the age of 74.