Francis James Roscoe

Francis James Roscoe (1831 – December 20, 1878) was a Canadian entrepreneur and Member of Parliament.

Francis Roscoe was born in Liverpool, England and later settled in the Ross Bay area of Victoria, British Columbia. He was the younger brother of poet William Caldwell Roscoe and the grandson of English historian and writer William Roscoe. Roscoe was a partner in several hardware and ironware ventures. In 1870, he became the Commissioner of Savings Banks for the British Columbia colony. Roscoe stood for election as an Independent Liberal candidate in the Canadian federal election in 1874 in the two-member Victoria riding. He placed second in a close three-way race and was elected along with Liberal incumbent Amor De Cosmos.

Roscoe did not stand for re-election in 1878 and died later in the year. He was replaced in the seat by incoming Prime Minister John A. Macdonald who had lost his Ontario seat earlier as the BC portion of the election was delayed.

Roscoe's Victoria home is today preserved by The Land Conservancy of BC as a rare example of a preconfederation colonial house.

External links

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* [http://www.conservancy.bc.ca/content.asp?sectionid=30&pageid=294 Roscoe's Victoria home from the Land Conservancy]