Colin Inkster (August 3, 1843 – September 28, 1934) was a political figure in

Manitoba Manitoba is a Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Canada at the Centre of Canada, longitudinal centre of the country. It is Canada's Population of Canada by province and territory, fifth-most populous province, with a population ...

. He was a member of the

Legislative Council of Manitoba The Legislative Council of Manitoba () was the upper house of the Legislature of Manitoba. Created in 1870 and abolished in 1876, the council was the only provincial upper house in Canada that was not a direct or indirect continuation of a pre-c ...

from 1871 to 1876, serving as its speaker in the final year when the council voted itself out of existence. He was born in Kildonan, Manitoba, the son of John Inkster, a native of

Scotland Scotland is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It contains nearly one-third of the United Kingdom's land area, consisting of the northern part of the island of Great Britain and more than 790 adjac ...

, and Mary Sinclair, the daughter of William Sinclair, chief factor with the

Hudson's Bay Company The Hudson's Bay Company (HBC), originally the Governor and Company of Adventurers of England Trading Into Hudson’s Bay, is a Canadian holding company of department stores, and the oldest corporation in North America. It was the owner of the ...

. Inkster was educated at St. John's College in

Winnipeg Winnipeg () is the capital and largest city of the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Manitoba. It is centred on the confluence of the Red River of the North, Red and Assiniboine River, Assiniboine rivers. , Winnipeg h ...

. In 1871, he married Annie Tait. He was named sheriff in 1876 and served in that position for 52 years. Inkster also served as rector for St. John's Cathedral. He was the cousin of Nina Cameron Graham, the first woman to receive an engineering degree in Britain, and gave her away at her wedding to Cecil Stephen Walley in 1912. Inkster was known to skip rope every morning for exercise. He died after suffering smoke inhalation during a fire at his hunting lodge on Delta Marsh. His former home, which he named ''Bleak House'' after a novel by

Charles Dickens Charles John Huffam Dickens (; 7 February 1812 – 9 June 1870) was an English novelist, journalist, short story writer and Social criticism, social critic. He created some of literature's best-known fictional characters, and is regarded by ...

, is now designated as a heritage property by the city of Winnipeg.

References

1843 births 1934 deaths People from Rupert's Land Members of the Legislative Council of Manitoba Manitoba candidates for Member of Parliament 19th-century members of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba {{Manitoba-MLA-stub