| 1790: |
On June 30, the native people of Albert Head, (now part of Sooke) discover Spanish explorer Manuel Quimper on their beach, claiming the land in the name of the King of Spain. |
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| 1842: |
The Hudson Bay Company's Chief Factor James Douglas, makes a detailed examination of Sooke, Beecher Bay, Metchosin, Esquimalt and Victoria harbours and selects Victoria -- an area then known as Camosack -- as the site for the Company's new depot. |
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| 1843: |
On March 14, Douglas arrives off Clover Point, and the next day decides to build a fort at the Inner Harbour. On Sunday, March 19, Father Jean Baptiste Bolduc, the Catholic priest who accompanied Douglas, celebrates the first mass in the area. The fort's construction begins on June 4. It is called Fort Camosack and then Fort Albert before it is changed, on June 10, to Fort Victoria. |
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| 1846: |
On June 15, the Oregon Treaty sets the boundary line with the United States as the 49th parallel to the Georgia Strait, then deflecting southerly through the centre of the straits to the ocean. |
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Sawmill constructed at Mill Stream, north of Fort Victoria. |
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| 1849: |
On January 13, the British government grants Vancouver Island to the Hudson's Bay Company with the stipulation that it must establish settlements of colonists on the island within five years. The Imperial Government of the Crown Colony of Vancouver Island is created. Fort Victoria is the capital and James Douglas takes command. |
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| 1850: |
On March 11, Richard Blanshard becomes the Island's first governor. |
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| 1852: |
A townsite is laid out in streets around Fort Victoria and the name is changed to Victoria. |
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| 1858: |
The mainland's gold rush turns Victoria into an important community through which 25,000 miners and their supplies are funneled to the gold camps. |
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The B.C. mainland becomes a Crown colony. |
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Victoria's daily newspaper, The British Colonist, is born.
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| 1862: |
Victoria is incorporated as a city, with Tomas Harris as the first Mayor. |
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Victoria's first gas lights go up over the front doors of the saloons. Soon there are lights on poles at the most important intersections. |
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In September, the Tynemouth, a "bride ship" from England, arrives carrying 61 "well-built, pretty-looking young women, ages varying from 14 to an uncertain figure; a few are young widows who have seen better days". |
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| 1864: |
The old Fort is finally demolished and the lots are auctioned off. |
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| 1865: |
Esquimalt is selected as the Royal Navy's Pacific Squadron's headquarters.
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| 1866: |
The colonies of B.C. and Vancouver Island are united under the single name of the Colony of British Columbia with the capital at New Westminster. |
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| 1868: |
The capital is moved to Victoria. |
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| 1871: |
On July 21, B.C. enters confederation. Victoria is now the capital of the Province of British Columbia, in the Dominion of Canada. |
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In December, Emily Carr is born at Carr House at the north-east corner of Government and Simcoe Streets.
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| 1877: |
Sir James Douglas, founder of Victoria and the father of British Columbia, dies and is buried in Ross Bay Cemetery. |
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| 1878: |
City Hall is completed. |
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| 1880: |
The Victoria and Esquimalt Telephone Company installs telephone poles and the line between Victoria and Esquimalt is put in working order. |
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| 1882: |
The Hudson's Bay Company gives Beacon Hill Park as a gift to the City of Victoria. |
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| 1886: |
The Esquimalt and Nanaimo Railway from Victoria to Nanaimo is completed. |
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| 1887: |
Victoria's first interchange telephone switchboard is installed. |
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| 1898: |
The Provincial Legislature Buildings are completed. |
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| 1901: |
Her late revered Majesty Queen Victoria dies January 22 at Osborne, Isle of Wight. |
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| 1903: |
The Victoria Terminal Railway and Ferry Company begins ferry service between Sidney and the mouth of the Fraser River, linked to their rail service between Sidney and Victoria. |
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| 1905: |
The Canadian Pacific Railway begins construction of the Empress Hotel. |
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| 1910: |
The British government turns over the Esquimalt naval base to Canada. |
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| 1914: |
Outbreak of World War I. The Patricia Bay Airport is constructed as a training site for the allied forces. It continues to operate today as Victoria International Airport. |
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| 1932: |
The first Sidney to Anacortes ferry, the City of Angels, completes its inaugural run. |
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| 1945: |
Emily Carr dies, generally unhonored and unsung, in March of this year. |
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| 1961: |
The B.C. government establishes the B.C. Ferry Authority. |
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| 1963: |
Victoria College becomes the University of Victoria and the new campus is opened. |
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| 1994: |
Victoria hosts the XV Commonwealth Games. |
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| 1998: |
The tourism industry in Victoria reaches the one billion dollar mark. |
