Identity area
Type of entity
Authorized form of name
Helmcken, John Sebastian
Parallel form(s) of name
Standardized form(s) of name according to other rules
Other form(s) of name
Identifiers for corporate bodies
Description area
Dates of existence
1824-1920
History
John Sebastian Helmcken was born in London in 1824. He apprenticed to become a chemist and druggist and in 1844 he registered to become a doctor at Guy's Hospital. In 1848 he served as surgeon on board the Malacca until 1849 when he received an appointment from the Hudson's Bay Company as surgeon and clerk. In 1852, he married Cecilia Douglas, eldest daughter of Governor James Douglas. In 1856, Helmcken was elected to represent Esquimalt and Victoria District in the Legislative Assembly of Vancouver Island, serving as speaker until union with British Columbia in 1866. He later served on the Executive Council of B.C. He retired from politics in 1871, upon B.C.'s entry into Confederation.