1858 to 1899

1858

  
• Mainland British Columbia becomes a crown colony.  The Colony of Vancouver Island, previously created in 1849, remains separate.
  
   

1860

  

• The crew of the Royal Navy survey vessel Plumper maps the Discovery Passage.

 

• In the spring of 1860, Captain George Richards commanded his vessel, the HMS Plumper, on a survey of the Johnstone Strait and Northern Vancouver Island.  The Captain readily named different areas along the way, often using the names of shipmates and friends.  It is believed that Campbell River was named after the Plumper's assistant surgeon, Dr. Samuel Campbell.


Dr. Samuel Campbell, MCR 11495

(click to enlarge)

1875

  
• The USS Saranac sinks after striking Ripple Rock in the Seymour Narrows. 

Fred Nunns and E.B. Hill, MCR 6910
 

1887

• Fred Nunns takes up land near the mouth of the Campbell River.  He and his neighbour, E. B. Hill, are credited with being the town's first non-aboriginal residents.

• Frederick L. Nunns was born in Dublin in 1858.  After spending much of his life travelling the globe, Fred and his brother Jack made their way to Campbell River and started farming on a large parcel of land in what is now Campbellton.  Within a year, the brothers were joined by their siblings Annie, Frank and Lawrence.  Together they built a large log home, which included a piano Fred paddled up the coast from Comox, straddled on two canoes.

   

1890's

 


  Tyee Spit fish camp, MCR 11490

• Campbell River secures its reputation for producing salmon of mythic proportions.  Fishermen from all over the world come to try their luck, setting up camps on the Tyee Spit.

1892

  
• Fred Nunns leaves the area for seventeen years.  E. B. Hill moves on as well.