John Bryden (December 3, 1833 – March 27, 1915) was a Scottish-born businessman and political figure in

British Columbia British Columbia (commonly abbreviated as BC) is the westernmost province of Canada, situated between the Pacific Ocean and the Rocky Mountains. It has a diverse geography, with rugged landscapes that include rocky coastlines, sandy beaches, ...

, Canada. He represented Nanaimo from 1875 to 1876 and

North Nanaimo North Nanaimo was an electoral district in the province of British Columbia, Canada in the 1894, 1898 and 1900 elections only. For other historical and current ridings named Nanaimo or in the area of Nanaimo, British Columbia please see Nanaimo ...

from 1894 to 1900 in the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia. He was born in Dalzellyie, Kirkoswald, the son of John Brydan and Ann Cooper. Bryden received a certificate in mining and metallurgy and was hired by the Vancouver Coal Mining and Land Company operating near Nanaimo on

Vancouver Island Vancouver Island is an island in the northeastern Pacific Ocean and part of the Canadian province of British Columbia. The island is in length, in width at its widest point, and in total area, while are of land. The island is the largest by ...

. In 1866, he married Elizabeth Hamilton, the daughter of

Robert Dunsmuir Robert Dunsmuir (August 31, 1825April 12, 1889) was a Scottish-Canadian coal mine developer, owner and operator, railway developer, industrialist and politician in British Columbia. He was recognized as a National Historic Person by the governm ...

who was a superintendent for the mine. In 1881, he went to work for a coal mining operation owned by his father-in-law. Bryden became a justice of the peace and served as a captain in the militia. He was president of the Albion Iron Works, treasurer for the Esquimalt and Nanaimo Railway and vice-president for the Union Colliery of British Columbia. The 1890 Coal Mines Regulation Act, provincial legislation, prevented persons of Chinese origin from working underground in coal mines. Bryden launched a legal challenge against the use of Chinese workers underground by the Union Colliery, with the intent of having the legality of the act reviewed: this resulted in the act being struck down since it was found that it interfered with federal powers. In 1875, he was elected to the

Nanaimo City Council The Nanaimo City Council is the governing body for the city of Nanaimo, British Columbia British Columbia (commonly abbreviated as BC) is the westernmost province of Canada, situated between the Pacific Ocean and the Rocky Mountains. It has ...

and then to the British Columbia assembly; he resigned from the assembly in 1876. Bryden was defeated when he ran for reelection in 1900. Bryden died in Esquimault at the age of 81.

References

* Members of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia 1833 births 1915 deaths People from South Ayrshire Nanaimo city councillors Scottish emigrants to pre-Confederation British Columbia Canadian justices of the peace {{BritishColumbia-MLA-stub