"Blanshard was really and truly a gentleman- with a military moustache and fine features - but he was out of place - it could not be otherwise seeing that he took part and became querulous about the Company. They thought they knew their business about colonisation and Blanshard held a contrary opinion"John S. Helmcken (BCARS ADD.MSS.505, V.12)
When it came time for the new colony of Vancouver Island to form its own government, the Hudson's Bay Company had hoped that Chief Factor Douglas would be given the job. Instead the British Government selected the barrister Richard Blanshard for the position, as he didn’t have Douglas' ties to the Company. Blanshard agreed to serve for no salary, but when he arrived in Fort Victoria in March 1850, he found the house that was being built for him incomplete. He remained on his ship and sailed northward. He was "shocked" by the Hudson's Bay Company's treatment of striking miners at the Fort Rupert mine. The locals also accepted fears of an Indian attack. Douglas would not let any one interfere with the Indian policy he created, which was now based on mutual confidence. Blanshard resigned and left in August 1851. James Douglas found himself appointed Governor in his place.
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