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Fairfield in Victoria in Capital, British Columbia — Canada’s West Coast (North America)
 

William (Billy) Barker

1817 - 1894

 
 
William (Billy) Barker Marker image. Click for full size.
Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., May 21, 2014
1. William (Billy) Barker Marker
Inscription.

Baptized: March, Cambridgeshire, England
June 7 1817
Died: Victoria, B.C., Canada
July 11, 1894


On August 17 of 1862, Barker struck gold at 52 feet on Williams Creek, Cariboo. The town of Barkerville bears his name. Like many miners he was soon broke, but Barker continued to mine and prospect throughout the Cariboo for the rest of his life.

The fabulous wealth of the Cariboo mines laid the foundation for British Columbia. With this monument, Billy Barker is honoured as a builder of the Province.

He died poor in wealth but forever rich in friends.
 
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Cemeteries & Burial SitesEnvironmentSettlements & Settlers. A significant historical month for this entry is June 1836.
 
Location. 48° 24.634′ N, 123° 20.438′ W. Marker is in Victoria, British Columbia, in Capital. It is in Fairfield. It can be reached from Memorial Crescent. Monument is in Section F of Ross Bay Cemetery, south of Fairfield Road and east of Memorial Crescent. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Victoria BC V8S 1G1, Canada. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker
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is on British Columbia’s Vancouver Island. Globally, it is in North America, in the Inside Passage, on the Ring of Fire, in the Pacific Rim, in the Western Hemisphere, in the Western World, and in the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once a British colony.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Isabella Mainville Ross (within shouting distance of this marker); Minnie Victoria Robertson (about 90 meters away, measured in a direct line); Right Reverend George Hills, D.D. (about 120 meters away); Kakehashi (about 120 meters away); George and Isabella Pottinger (about 150 meters away); William Edgar Oliver (about 180 meters away); Lorne Lewis (about 240 meters away); Estate of the Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia (approx. 0.8 kilometers away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Victoria.
 
Also see . . .  History of Barkerville. (Submitted on June 25, 2014, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.)
 
William (Billy) Barker Monument image. Click for full size.
Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., May 21, 2014
2. William (Billy) Barker Monument
 
 
Credits. This page was last revised on February 16, 2023. It was originally submitted on June 25, 2014, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. This page has been viewed 710 times since then and 26 times this year. Photos:   1, 2. submitted on June 25, 2014, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.
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Jul. 7, 2026