William Fraser Tolmie (1812-1886) - Find a Grave Memorial

Western Medical and Political Pioneer. Born in Inverness, Scotland, he received a medical degree from the University of Glasgow at age 20 and was a licentiate on the faculty of the university. In 1832, when the Hudson's Bay Company was looking for medical officers for the Columbia District of the Pacific Northwest, Dr. Tolmie signed a five-year contract to serve in the dual capacity of clerk and surgeon. He arrived at Fort Nisqually Washington, May 1833 and served as the post's first surgeon. He soon was trading furs with the Indians and showed a marked aptitude for dealing with them. As a surgeon and trader, he arranged good relations with the Native Americans and served as chef legislator for the Hudson's Bay Company north region (1843-59). In 1859, the Hudson's Bay Company transferred him to British Columbia, where he served on the HBC Board of Management until retiring in 1871. He also was active in politics, serving as a member of the House of Assembly of Vancouver Island, (1860-66 and a member of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia, (1874-1878). He died at age 74 in Victoria, Canada and Tolmie State Park Washington, is named after him.

Bio by: John "J-Cat" Griffith