Fitzherbert Ruxton Despard
Fitzherbert Ruxton Despard (1841-1895)
1895 Obituary [1]
FITZHERBERT RUXTON DESPARD was born in Co. Meath, Ireland, on the 2nd of January, 1841. His father, a member of an old and respected family, long resident in Queen’s Co., had been in the army and at that time was a Government Magistrate.
Young Despard was educated at Portarlington School, on leaving which he became a pupil in the office of the late Nathaniel Beardmore, with whom his brother, Richard Carden Despard, was in partnership.
About the year 1861 he emigrated to Vancouver Island, where he became engaged in gold mining and went to the Caraboo Mines, situated in a remote district, difficult of access, owing to the uncivilized condition of the intervening country.
This speculation at first proved a great success, but afterwards failed. From Caraboo he wandered southwards along the West Coast of America, and visited the Sandwich Islands, eventually being employed by a contractor to superintend the carrying out of some harbour works on that coast. . . . [more]