William Norman Bole
Encyclopedia
William Norman Bole was an Irish
-born lawyer, judge and political figure in British Columbia
. He represented New Westminster City
in the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia
from 1886 to 1889.
He was born in Castlebar
, County Mayo
, the son of John Bole and Elizabeth Jane Argyle, and was educated in Dublin. In 1877, he arrived at San Francisco, en route to Queensland
. Having missed his ship, Bole changed his plans and travelled to Victoria
. He was called to the British Columbia bar the following year. Still planning to continue on to Australia
eventually, Bole set up practice in New Westminster
. In 1881, he married Florence Blanchard Coulthard. In 1884, Bole was named police magistrate for New Westminster. In the same year, he ran unsuccessfully for a seat in the provincial assembly in a by-election. In 1887, he was named Queen's Counsel
and, in 1889, County Court judge. In 1891, he became a local judge in the Supreme Court. Bole also served as a captain in the militia and as president of the Board of Trade. He was reportedly an excellent marksman. He died in New Westminster at the age of 76.
Bole named the village of Belcarra, whose Gaelic
name means "the fair land upon which the sun shines", after a village in Ireland.
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
-born lawyer, judge 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 New Westminster City
New Westminster City
New Westminster City was a provincial electoral district in the Canadian province of British Columbia from 1871 to 1912. For other electoral districts in New Westminster, please see New Westminster .- Demographics :- Electoral history :...
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 1886 to 1889.
He was born in Castlebar
Castlebar
Castlebar is the county town of, and at the centre of, County Mayo in Ireland. It is Mayo's largest town by population. The town's population exploded in the late 1990s, increasing by one-third in just six years, though this massive growth has slowed down greatly in recent years...
, County Mayo
County Mayo
County Mayo is a county in Ireland. It is located in the West Region and is also part of the province of Connacht. It is named after the village of Mayo, which is now generally known as Mayo Abbey. Mayo County Council is the local authority for the county. The population of the county is 130,552...
, the son of John Bole and Elizabeth Jane Argyle, and was educated in Dublin. In 1877, he arrived at San Francisco, en route to Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
. Having missed his ship, Bole changed his plans and travelled to 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...
. He was called to the British Columbia bar the following year. Still planning to continue on to Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
eventually, Bole set up practice in New Westminster
New Westminster, British Columbia
New Westminster is an historically important city in the Lower Mainland region of British Columbia, Canada, and is a member municipality of the Greater Vancouver Regional District. It was founded as the capital of the Colony of British Columbia ....
. In 1881, he married Florence Blanchard Coulthard. In 1884, Bole was named police magistrate for New Westminster. In the same year, he ran unsuccessfully for a seat in the provincial assembly in a by-election. In 1887, he was named Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel , known as King's Counsel during the reign of a male sovereign, are lawyers appointed by letters patent to be one of Her [or His] Majesty's Counsel learned in the law...
and, in 1889, County Court judge. In 1891, he became a local judge in the Supreme Court. Bole also served as a captain in the militia and as president of the Board of Trade. He was reportedly an excellent marksman. He died in New Westminster at the age of 76.
Bole named the village of Belcarra, whose Gaelic
Irish language
Irish , also known as Irish Gaelic, is a Goidelic language of the Indo-European language family, originating in Ireland and historically spoken by the Irish people. Irish is now spoken as a first language by a minority of Irish people, as well as being a second language of a larger proportion of...
name means "the fair land upon which the sun shines", after a village in Ireland.