James George French

James George French (1865-1952) "J.G." or "Jim" was a British Naturalist, Land Settler, Animal Trainer, and Menagerie Owner in Victoria B.C. Canada dating back to 1898 "WILD BEASTS FOR PETS" He was the subject of a five-page article in the September 1908 edition of Western Ho! Magazine. "How Amatuers Handle Willd Animals" pages 91-95 
 
 
 
==Early life==
French was the son of William James French (1825-1907) and Ruth Elizabeth Whitfield (1832-1909) an upper-class family residing in Bristol, England. James was the second son of five children. He was educated and had a heavy interest in nature and animals. His two passions as he approached adulthood were collecting samples of flora and fauna and attending fox hunts as a "follower" James was fascinated with lions and lion tamers and believed that he possessed mesmeric powers over animals. He would eventually own and work with lions held in cages at his menagerie 
==Life in Canada==
As the "second son" James was subject to the primogeniture inheritance practices of the day. This may have been a factor in his remittance to Canada. In April 1887, French departed Bristol for Canada. He arrived in Lévis, Quebec in May and then continued by train to Calgary arriving there in May. French traveled around Calgary and Edmonton looking at land. He settled on a ranch West of Buffalo Lake but never gained a foothold there. He left Calgary traveling by train to the City of Vancouver, B.C. before settling on Vancouver Island.
==French's Beach==
1889 French Pre-empted land near Shirley, B.C. Section 79 Renfrow District. The land consists of 145 acres of old-growth forest and extensive beachfront footage on the shores of the Straight of Juan De Fuca. French also purchased three additional sections: 76, 95, and 81 bordering or close to Section 79, totaling 493 acres including one mile of beachfront between Sheringham Point and Point No Point (Glacier Point)
==Menagerie in Victoria==
French maintained a menagerie that was moved to different locations around greater Victoria. French treated his menagerie as a hobby and it included at various times lions, bears, and cougars. "Jim French: King of Beasts" 
Exotic Animals were delivered to Victoria from San Francisco and Seattle aboard Pacific Coast Steamship Co. vessels including the SS Umatilla "For J.G. French of this city the steamship brought a lioness" April 21, 1908 and the "SS City of Puebla" "ostrich brought north for J.G. French" April 21, 1908 
==Legal Battles Defending Menagerie==
French was under constant pressure from neighbors and public officials to move his collection of animals over sanitation and safety concerns after the escape of a lion. October 7, 1909. Successfully represented by Albert Edward McPhillips as the case went to the Provincial Supreme Court. 
Headlines included: "French's Menagerie is Objectionable", 
, 
"A Menace to Health" , "Attack made on menagerie by-law" , "Lions and Smells in Supreme Court" , "Menagerie remains in South Saanich", , "Judgement for Defense" 
==Personal life==
In 1898 French married Joanna Theodora "Dora Jane" Goudie (1884-1933), the eldest of 13 children of early Vancouver Island settlers John Goudie and Mary Ann Vautrin. The couple had five children: Ivan George French (1901-1999), Hazel Madeleine French (1902-1974), Oscar James French (1904-2001), Wilfred Arthur French (died 1994) and Daniel John French (1908-1981).
==Death and Burial==
James George French died on December 14, 1952, at age 87. He was cremated and interred at the Royal Oak Garden of Remembrance in Ross Bay Cemetery in Victoria, B.C.
Dora Jane French preceded her husband in death in 1933 at age 49. 
==Sale of French Property to B.C. Parks== 
In 1972 negotiations began between the 12 surviving grandchildren of James George French and the B.C. Minister of Recreation and Conservation to acquire the property for use as a park. In October 1973, the sale of Section 79 property to the Province was completed. "Major Beach-Front Land Purchased by B.C. for Park" "French's last stand now beautiful park" 
==French Beach Provincial Park==
 officially opened on June 12, 1981.
Category:British naturalists
Category:1865 births
Category:1952 deaths
Category:Animal trainers
Category:British people