Thomas Gifford

Who was Thomas Gifford?

Thomas Gifford was a politician in British Columbia, Canada.

Born in Lockerbie, Scotland, the son of William Gifford and Margaret Stewart, he was educated there and apprenticed as a jeweller. He opened his own store in Lockerbie around 1876. In 1877, he married Annie Stoddart. Thomas and his wife, along with sons William and Thomas Stuart, emigrated to St. Paul, Minnesota in 1881. Here, they had a daughter Margaret and another son, James Stoddart, before moving again to New Westminster, British Columbia, Canada, where Gifford opened a jewelry store. They had three more children - Julia Stuart, Hugh Wilson, and John Jardine - and lived the rest of their lives in New Westminster. Gifford served as an alderman for New Westminster, as well as a member of the school board, hospital board and Board of Trade.

Thomas was elected to the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia in a 1901 by-election held after John Cunningham Brown was named to cabinet, and was re-elected in 1903, 1907, 1909 and 1912.

He died in New Westminster at the age of 81.