Colin Inkster (August 3, 1843 – September 28, 1934) was a political figure in

Manitoba Manitoba ( ) is a Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Canada at the Centre of Canada, longitudinal centre of the country. It is Canada's Population of Canada by province and territory, fifth-most populous province, with a population o ...

. He was a member of the

Legislative Council of Manitoba The Legislative Council of Manitoba (french: links=no, Conseil législatif du Manitoba) was the upper house of the Legislature of Manitoba. Created in 1870 and abolished in 1876, the council was the only provincial upper house in Canada that was n ...

from 1871 to 1876, serving as its speaker in the final year when the council voted itself out of existence. He was born in Kildonan, Manitoba, the son of John Inkster, a native of

Scotland Scotland (, ) is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Covering the northern third of the island of Great Britain, mainland Scotland has a border with England to the southeast and is otherwise surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean to the ...

, and Mary Sinclair, the daughter of William Sinclair, chief factor with the

Hudson's Bay Company The Hudson's Bay Company (HBC; french: Compagnie de la Baie d'Hudson) is a Canadian retail business group. A fur trading business for much of its existence, HBC now owns and operates retail stores in Canada. The company's namesake business div ...

. Inkster was educated at St. John's College in

Winnipeg Winnipeg () is the capital and largest city of the province of Manitoba in Canada. It is centred on the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine rivers, near the longitudinal centre of North America. , Winnipeg had a city population of 749,6 ...

. In 1871, he married Annie Tait. He was named sheriff in 1876 and served in that position for 52 years. Inkster also served as rector for St. John's Cathedral. He was the cousin of

Nina Cameron Graham Nina Cameron Walley (''née'' Graham; 11 March 1891-24 March 1974) was the first woman to receive an engineering degree in Britain. Early life and education Nina Cameron Graham was born in Liscard, Cheshire to Mary Cameron Graham (née Slater ...

, the first woman to receive an engineering degree in Britain, and gave her away at her wedding to Cecil Stephen Walley in 1912. Inkster was known to skip rope every morning for exercise. He died after suffering smoke inhalation during a fire at his hunting lodge on

Delta Marsh Delta Marsh consists of an extensive open marsh located near the south shore of Lake Manitoba, approximately 24 km north of the town of Portage la Prairie, Manitoba. The marsh extends for nearly 30 km along the shore of the lake, and has ...

. His former home, which he named ''Bleak House'' after a novel by

Charles Dickens Charles John Huffam Dickens (; 7 February 1812 – 9 June 1870) was an English writer and social critic. He created some of the world's best-known fictional characters and is regarded by many as the greatest novelist of the Victorian e ...

, is now designated as a heritage property by the city of Winnipeg.

References

1843 births 1934 deaths Members of the Legislative Council of Manitoba {{Manitoba-politician-stub