William James Armstrong

Who was William James Armstrong?

William James Armstrong was a merchant, miller and politician in British Columbia. He represented New Westminster District from 1871 to 1878 and New Westminster City from 1881 to 1884 in the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia.

He was born in Peterborough, Ontario, the son of William Armstrong, a native of Ireland, and Elizabeth Brown, and was educated there. He moved to Grass Valley, California, where he was involved in mining, with his family in 1852. In 1858, the family moved to Langley, British Columbia. The following year, Armstrong settled in Queensborough and opened a general store. He was elected to the first municipal council for New Westminster in 1860. In 1861, he married Honor Chenhalls Ladner. Armstrong was president of the municipal council for New Westminster from 1866 to 1867 and from 1869 to 1871. He served in the provincial cabinet as Minister of Finance and Agriculture from 1872 to 1876. Armstrong was defeated when he ran for the New Westminster City seat in the assembly in 1878. He was reelected in a by-election held in 1881 after Ebenezer Brown resigned his seat due to ill health. From 1881 to 1882, he served in the cabinet as Provincial Secretary.