Frederick Buscombe (September 2, 1862 – July 21, 1938), was the 11th Mayor of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. He served from 1905 to 1906. A glassware and china merchant, he was a President of the Vancouver Board of Trade in 1900.
Buscombe was born in 1862 in Bodmin,[1]Cornwall, England, to Edwin and Isabella Oliver Grilles Buscombe.[2] He immigrated to Canada with his family in 1870, settling near Hamilton, Ontario, where his father became a builder.[3] He first worked in Hamilton from 1878 to James A. Skinner & Company, a glassware and china company, as a travelling salesman from 1878 to 1891.[2] In 1891, his job with the company brought him west to Vancouver, where he established an office with his brother, George.[4] Prior to 1891, he visited the Vancouver area twice, in 1884 and 1886.[1] He served as a partner of the company in Vancouver until 1899, when he bought out the company, and established Frederick Buscombe & Co. Ltd. china, glassware and earthenware with his brother, which grew to be one of the largest businesses of the kind in the Canadian West.[3] He was also president of the Pacific Coast Lumber & Sawmills Company, and director of the Pacific Marine Insurance Company.[2] In 1899, he commissioned the Buscombe Building, located at 342 Water Street & 403 West Cordova Street, in Gastown, Vancouver, which is now the site of a restaurant and various businesses.[5]
Buscombe was elected Mayor of Vancouver in 1905. During the election, he advocated for improved financial management within the municipal affairs, earning support from three newspapers, and many businessmen.[6] He served two terms, until 1906. During his mayoralty, he helped develop the Greater Vancouver Water Board.[7] The city council also passed a motion to request suspension of immigration of East Indians to Vancouver due to public discontent of immigrants working in the growing construction trade.[8]
Buscombe served as president of Vancouver's Board of Trade from 1900 to 1901, and as president of the Vancouver Tourist Association in 1901.[2] A Mason, he was also a member of the Vancouver Club, Royal Vancouver Yacht Club, Terminal City Club, Jericho Country Club, and the Sons of England Society.[2] He died at Vancouver 1938 and was buried at Mountain View Cemetery. At the time of his death, he was married to Cora Elsie Bird.[9]
He married Lydia Rebecca Mattice on May 6, 1886, with whom he had five children.[3] He lived in Dundurn, Vancouver.[2] A member of the Church of England, he enjoyed yachting, fishing and golf.
