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Title
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Namu Docks, between openings
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Description
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Photograph shows the Canadian Coast Guard vessel "Gordon Reid" docked.
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Date
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1991-09
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Collection
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Fisherman Publishing Society Photographs
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Title
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Interview of James Balfour Buchanan
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Description
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March 8, 2004 James “Jim” Balfour Buchanan (b. March 31, 1921 in Vancouver) is the only child of James Buchanan (b. Feb. 1877 in Shanghai; d. 1944 in Vancouver) and his mother (b. in Kingston, Jamaica), whose maiden name was Balfour. Father: sent to boarding school in Yorkshire, England at age 8. After completing his schooling, he lived in Germany
Show moreMarch 8, 2004 James “Jim” Balfour Buchanan (b. March 31, 1921 in Vancouver) is the only child of James Buchanan (b. Feb. 1877 in Shanghai; d. 1944 in Vancouver) and his mother (b. in Kingston, Jamaica), whose maiden name was Balfour. Father: sent to boarding school in Yorkshire, England at age 8. After completing his schooling, he lived in Germany for one year, learning the language and thus preparing him for later services as an interpreter at the end of the First World War. He was living in California when the War started, and moved to England to enlist. During the War he was in the Canadian Service Corps, assisting with ammunitions, and stationed in France. Worked as an accountant after the War. Paternal grandfather: also James Buchanan (b.1850 in Dunbar, Scotland), went to Beijing, China in 1867 as an apprentice seaman. Afterwards moved to Shanghai, where he worked as a stockbroker, and had a family. He was also an accomplished rower. He lived and worked in Shanghai until around 1900. His brother, John, was a physician in Liverpool. Paternal grandmother: maiden name was Ure. (d.1940). She lived in Berkeley, California until around 1930, and James visited her several times as a child. Members of her family continued to run James’ stockbroking firm in Shanghai up until the early 1940’s, when the Second World War broke out. Paternal great-grandfather: also James Buchanan, was a baker in Dunbar, Scotland. James tries to keep in touch with some Buchanan cousins still in England when he can. Mother: Balfour. Born in Kingston, Jamaica. 1 of 3 daughters (Sister Edith, lived in Toronto, d. 1985; other in California). She travelled to Westray when living in England. Identified herself as Anglican despite coming from a Baptist upbringing. Maternal grandfather: James Balfour. One of 8 children (5 sons, 3 daughters). They were raised on a 70 acre farm in Westray (Most Western of the Orkney Islands). James went to the University of Glasgow, for his Bachelor’s of Divinity (he was a Baptist); 2 of his siblings received law degrees from Glasgow as well. One of these siblings (David Balfour) became registrar general in the Jamaican government, and children stayed in Jamaica for 2 generations. 2 other siblings settled in Manitoba; a granddaughter from this line lives in Vancouver & contacted James. James moved to Kingston, Jamaica to work as the assistant principal of the local bishop’s college. Passed in 1912; buried in Highgate Cemetery in England. Maternal grandmother: Maiden name: Ada East. Born in Jamaica to an English couple with the surname East, who had settled in the area & established a Boy’s School in 1860. Married James Balfour. They moved together with their children to South Carolina, USA, where James worked in a Baptist college. They lived in England in the early 1900’s, and after her husband died, Ada moved with her 3 daughters to Lloydminster, Saskatchewan, Canada in 1904. She often lived with James’ family while he was growing up, and he was very close with her. Ada passed away in Vancouver in 1936. Maternal great-grandfather: David East; died 1901 in England. James has travelled to Scotland twice; once in 1951, when he discovered the Buchanan Castle existed, and another in 1999. He has always been interested in his Scottish heritage. He bought a Buchanan tartan while in Edinburgh. James struggled with health problems (asthma) growing up in West Pt. Grey, Vancouver, and was in & out of school for a time. He discusses evolution of real estate in his old neighbourhood; his mother sold their house in the 1940’s for $8500; the same house was last purchased for $850,000 in early 2000’s, before being demolished. James attended University Hills School; attended University of British Columbia. He was not involved in the Second World War due to his health problems. He stayed on at UBC as an assistant, and got his Master’s degree in Chemistry. He went to Cornell University in 1946 for his Ph.D., and stayed on there until 1952. He got a job in his department at DuPont in Wilmington, Delaware, and worked there for 30 years. He came out to Vancouver in 1983 “just to look around”, as his mother still lived here. He bought a place near False Creek with the intention of renting, and ended up moving in himself in 1985. He lived there until 6 months prior to this interview. He never married or had children in his life. James has done a lot of travelling in his life, well into retirement, including trips to Europe, Asia, Central America & Africa. James started work with DuPont Pharmaceuticals May 15, 1952. The largest project he was involved in was the development of an antibiotic. His focus later shifted to the agricultural side of the company, which developed pesticides, insecticides, and herbicides. He does not think the development of these chemicals was associated with the chemical research gas from World War Two. He discusses the issues with DDT. Most of the products James was involved with were insecticides which are still used. In 1971, a plague of moths overwhelmed agriculture in Alberta & Saskatchewan. His product, “Lannate”, was used to successfully treat the infestation. The canola crop was particularly at risk. “Every crop duster in Western Canada was spraying it”. In his later years, James was involved in the favourite Scottish pastime of golf, before moving onto a hobby of sailing. He has read books on Scottish history, particularly on Fife and the Balfour family. He visited Edinburgh and went to many bookstores. He has also read on the name Buchanan – in Gaelic, it means “House of the Canon”. The family’s slogans are in Latin. Never had haggis. Owns a few bagpipe records, was interested in piping – saw one Tattoo in the 1940s. He had many other Scottish neighbours when growing up in Pt. Grey. He remembers there were more MacDonalds than Smiths in the phonebook. His father played cricket in the neighbourhood.
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Date
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2004-03-08
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Title
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S.S. Saxonia
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Description
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S.S. Saxonia passenger ship at an unknown location.
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Date
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,
Pages