Charles Frederick Houghton

Charles Frederick Houghton
Member of the Canadian Parliament for Yale District
In office 1871–1872
Succeeded by	Replaced by Yale
Personal details
Born	April 27, 1839(1839-04-27) Glashare Castle, County Kilkenny (Republic of Ireland)
Died	August 13, 1898(1898-08-13) (aged 59) Victoria, British Columbia
Political party	Liberal

Charles Frederick Houghton (April 27, 1839 – August 13, 1898) was a Canadian rancher, justice of the peace, politician and soldier.

Military career

Born in County Kilkenny, Ireland, he was commissioned into the 57th Foot without purchase in 1855. In 1856 he was promoted lieutenant without purchase, and in 1858 he transferred into the 5th Foot; a month later he transferred into the 20th Foot. In 1861 he purchased a Captaincy. In 1863 he retired from the Army and emigrated to British Columbia, Canada, settling in the Okanagan valley. Through a military land grant, he established Coldstream Ranch that year, later transferring title to fellow officers Forbes George Vernon and Charles Albert Vernon.

Political career

In 1865 and 1866, he led expeditions to explore the Gold Range through to the Columbia River mines. In 1866, he was appointed justice of the peace. After British Columbia entered confederation he was elected to the Canadian House of Commons for the riding of Yale District in 1871.

After being promoted to lieutenant-colonel, he was appointed deputy adjutant-general of the militia for Military District No.11 (British Columbia) in 1873.

In 1877, he commanded a force of 60 men, reinforced by infantry and artillery from New Westminster and the gunboat HMS Grappler, in a failed attempt to remove striking colliers from Robert Dunsmuir's Wellington mine. Two years later, Houghton married Dunsmuir's daughter, Marion.

After his marriage and a half-year in Europe, Houghton was transferred to Manitoba where he organised the 90th (Winnipeg) Battalion of Rifles. He was passed over in favour of Major-General Frederick Dobson Middleton for command of the troops charged with suppressing the North-West Rebellion.

External links

• Charles Frederick Houghton at the Dictionary of Canadian Biography Online
• Charles Frederick Houghton - Parliament of Canada biography
• The Canadian Encyclopedia - Coldstream

Persondata
Name	Houghton, Charles
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	April 27, 1839
Place of birth	Glashare Castle, County Kilkenny (Republic of Ireland)
Date of death	August 13, 1898
Place of death	Victoria, British Columbia