W. C. Hopkinson

William Charles Hopkinson (1880–1914) was a Indian Police officer and later the chief assistant to the Canadian Inspector Immigration who is noted for his role in infiltration and intelligence on the Ghadarite movement in North America in the early 1900s. [cite web
author =
publisher = UC, Berkley, Bancroft Library
url=http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/SSEAL/echoes/chapter7/chapter7.html
title=Echoes of Freedom:South Asian pioneers in California 1899-1965.
accessdate=2007-11-11] [Harvnb|Puri|1980|p=] harvnb|Jensen|1979|p=]

Hopkinson was born in Delhi on June 16, 1880. His father, William Hopkinson, was then a sergeant instructor of volunteers at Allahabad. His mother, Agnes Hopkinson, may have been an Indian woman, who used a European name.Harvnb|Johnson|1989|p=142] Raised in India, he spoke Hindi, but did not speak Punjabi well. He turned to others for translation of materials written in the Gurmukhi script.

In 1903 or 1904, he became an inspector of police in Calcutta. He came to Canada in late 1907 or early 1908, officially on leave, but pursuing investigations for the Criminal Intelligence Department in India. In February, 1909, he was hired by the Immigration Branch (part of the Department of the Interior), as an immigration inspector and interpreter. He later became chief assistant to the Canadian inspector of immigration. [Harvnb|Campbell|1999|P=60]

Hopkinson continued to work for the police in India. He reported to the Deputy Minister of the Interior in Ottawa and to J.A. Wallinger, Agent of the Government of India in London. He was retained by the U.S. immigration service.

By 1910 Hopkinson was actively involved in monitoring the Indian immigration and the nationalistic opinions and outlets in North America, especially Canada, and was the principal agent responsible for a comprehensive British intelligence in the Pacific coast. He was successful in infiltrating the Ghadarite movement after its conception, and in 1914, he was involved in incidences surrounding the Komagata Maru.Harvnb|Campbell|1999|P=] Hopkinson was assassinated by a Ghadarite by the name of Mewa Singh, at the provincial courthouse on West Georgia Street, in Vancouver, B.C., on October 21, 1914.Harvnb|Popplewell|1995|p=160]

Hopkinson was survived by his wife, Nellie, and two daughters, Jean and Constance.

Notes and references

*Harvard reference
Surname1 = Campbell
Given1 = Peter
Year = 1999
Title = East Meets Left: South Asian Militants and the Socialist Party of Canada in British Columbia,1904-1914.Vol 20, Autumn 1999. p 35-66
URL =
Publisher = International Council for Canadian Studies
ID =
*Harvard reference
Surname1 = Jensen
Given1 = Joan M
Year = 1979
Title = The "Hindu Conspiracy": A Reassessment. The Pacific Historical Review, Vol. 48, No. 1. (Feb., 1979), pp. 65-83
URL =
Publisher = University of California Press
ID = ISSN 0030-8684.
*{Harvard reference
Surname1 = Johnson
Given1 = Hugh J M
Year = 1989
Title = The Voyage of the Komagata Maru: The Sikh Challenge to Canada's Colour Bar.
URL =
Publisher = University of British Columbia Press
ISBN = 0774803401.
*Harvard reference
Surname1 = Popplewell
Given1 = Richard J
Year = 1995
Title = Intelligence and Imperial Defence: British Intelligence and the Defence of the Indian Empire 1904-1924.
URL = http://www.routledge.com/shopping_cart/products/product_detail.asp?sku=&isbn=071464580X&parent_id=&pc=
Publisher = Routledge
ISBN = 071464580X.
*Harvard reference
Surname1 = Puri
Given1 = Harish K
Year = 1980
Title = Revolutionary Organization: A Study of the Ghadar Movement. Social Scientist, Vol. 9, No. 2/3. (Sep. - Oct., 1980), pp. 53-66
URL =
Publisher = Social Scientist
ID = ISSN: 09700293.