Alexander Philip

Biography

Birth Alexander Philip was born on 7 Sep 1849 in Elgin, Banffshire, Scotland.

Early Life In Scotland

Alexander Philip commenced the study of law in Edinburgh in 1872 and in 1877 he was admitted to practice as a solicitor. He initially practiced law in Glasgow.

Marriage Alexander Philip married Annie McLaren on 28 Jun 1877 in Greenock, Renfrewshire, Scotland.

Married Life In Scotland

The first known residence of Alexander and Annie Philip was at "Cnoc Breac", 23 Aytoun Road, Pollockshields, in Kinning Park, Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Scotland where their first three children, Jane F Philip, Alice M Philip, and Alexander D Philip, were born from August 1878 to November 1882.

Later they moved to 14 Granville Street, a house called "Blawlawen", in Helensburgh, Dunbarton, Scotland, where their fourth child, Muriel Philip, was born in April 1884.

Next they moved to Rutherford House, also known as the Rutherford Castle Inn, north east of West Linton in Peeblesshire where they stayed for several years. But in late 1886, Alexander and Annie took up a house at Crossland Crescent in Peebles, Peebleshire, Scotland, where their fifth child, William Philip, was born in January 1887.

Alexander and Annie then moved in 1887 to St. Andrews Road in Peebles, Peeblesshire, Scotland, where their sixth child, Norah Philip, was born in May 1889.

Emmigration To Canada

Alexander and Annie emigrated to Canada with their family in 1891. They left on August 22, 1891, boarding the ship "Corean" of the Allen Line in Glasgow. They arrived in Quebec City on September 1, 1891. The immediately boarded a train for the west coast, stopping briefly in Winnipeg, Manitoba, and at Glacier House in the Rockies. They arrived in New Westminster, British Columbia on September 7, 1891 and immediately boarded the steamer "Riphel" for Victoria, British Columbia, where they arrived that night.

Married Life In Canada

Upon immigrating to Canada, Alexander and Annie first settled in Victoria, British Columbia in September 1891. By 1892 the family had moved to New Westminster, British Columbia where they stayed until 1896. The family then attempted farming near Riverview in Coquitlam for six months and then moved to Vancouver by 1897. Later, by 1911, the family had moved to the District of North Vancouver, British Columbia.

Upon settling in New Westminster, Alexander Philip initially worked as a real estate agent. In May 1891 the District of Coquitlam had been incorporated and in November 1891, Alexander was asked to accept the position of clerk of that Municipal District. The following January he was made clerk, collector and assessor of the District of Coquitlam.

In the summer of 1892 a committee was formed to request the incorporation of the Burnaby district. Alexander Philip acted as secretary of that committee and took the necessary steps to achieve incorporation. When the first council was elected he was appointed clerk, collector and assessor of the Burnaby District while fulfilling the same task in Coquitlam.

In 1902, after having had an office in Vancouver for several years, Alexander Philip applied for the advertised position of clerk and treasurer for the District of North Vancouver, to which he was appointed as the first paid employee of the District of North Vancouver, earning $50 per month, plus ferry fare from North Vancouver to Vancouver for meetings.

In January 1904 Alexander Philip resigned from the Coquitlam appointment and confined his attention to the Burnaby and North Vancouver work. In 1905, Alexander resigned from the Burnaby appointment and gave his time to his real estate and conveyancing work and his North Vancouver work.

Among Alexander Philip's first duties in North Vancouver was to arrange for a public school as there was not one in the District of North Vancouver though there had been one in Moodyville, which some of the District children had attended. In the area now occupied by the City of North Vancouver, Alexander found 33 children of school age and the Provincial Education Department at once authorized the building of a two roomed school. This first school was opened at 125 West First Street, with the first teacher being Miss Clapp.

In 1909 there was a strong desire to have harbour work begun on the North Shore and a committee was formed of representatives from the local councils who were interested. Alexander Philip acted as honorary secretary of the committee and on its instruction he drew up a bill to have the harbour board incorporated by the Federal Parliament. Solicitors of the various councils represented and by the committee as a whole agreed. Only one point remained to be adjusted and that was as to the limit of boundaries. At this stage, the harbour and shipping committee of the Vancouver Board of Trade came out strongly in opposition and further action was postponed. In 1910, Alexander Philip was appointed president of the North Vancouver Board of Trade and during his term of office a further effort was made to get the support of the Vancouver Board of Trade but in vain. Finally, in 1912 the Harbour Board was incorporated by the action of Mr. Stevens, Member of Parliament.

Alexander Philip served for two terms with the North Vancouver Board of Trade. He was active in the organization of the North Vancouver Choral Society. He also held the office of magistrate in the District of North Vancouver for a number of years and was prominently identified with many of the communities' organizations.

One of these organizations was the Sixth Field Company Canadian Engineers, which was created through the efforts of Alexander's son, William "Billy" Philip, with support from Alexander, who in 1905 came to live together at 259 West Keith Road, in the days when that address was part of the District of North Vancouver. Alexander Philip and his son Billy took steps to have a volunteer military company formed and used Alexander's office, one of the few on the North Shore, to convene meetings of potential recruits. The first meeting was in June 1910. Though the movement proceeded slowly, it went steadily, and made rapid strides when Major James P. Fell became interested. The company was formed in 1912 with Major Fells as its commanding officer. During World War I, the company recruited and trained 5,000 soldiers for service overseas.

Later Life In Canada

Alexander Philip lost his wife, Annie, in 1912. Several years later, he married Elizabeth Device nee Davey on October 12, 1918, in Seattle, Washington, USA.

Death

Alexander Philip died in North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada on 29 August, 1929.

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