Why is Victoria the capital of British Columbia and not Vancouver?

A Hudson's Bay Post was established at the site of present-day Victoria in 1843. In 1846 it was named Fort Victoria, in honour of Queen Victoria. When the crown colony of Vancouver Island was created in 1849, a townsite was surveyed and Victoria became the colony's capital. James Douglas was the governor of the colony of Vancouver Island.

Around 1857, rumours of gold in the Cariboo region sparked a gold rush. James Douglas took control of the mainland in order to preserve Law and Order, and to confirm that British Columbia was, indeed, British. The colony of British Columbia was established in 1858, with James Douglas as governor of both colonies.

Victoria was incorporated as a city in 1862.

In 1866, the colonies of Vancouver Island and British Columbia were united into one colony, with the capital at Victoria. When the united colony of British Columbia entered Confederation in 1871, Victoria remained the provincial capital.