Draft:James George French

James George French (1865-1952) was a British-born naturalist, land settler, animal trainer, and menagerie owner in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. He gave his name to what is today French Beach Provincial Park.

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". Fascinated with lions and lion tamers, James 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" French 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 travelled around Calgary and Edmonton looking at land. He settled on land near present day Ponoka but never gained a foothold there. He left Calgary traveling by train to the city of Vancouver, B.C. before settling on Vancouver Island.

In 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 Strait of Juan De Fuca. French also purchased three additional sections: 76, 95, and 81 bordering or close to Section 79, totalling 493 acres including one mile of beachfront between Sheringham Point and Point to Point (Glacier Point).

Menagerie
French maintained a menagerie that was moved to different locations around greater Victoria. French treated his menagerie as a hobby, including lions, bears, and cougars at various times. "Jim French: King of Beasts" He was the subject of a five-page article in the September 1908 edition of Western Ho! magazine, "How Amateurs Handle Wild Animals".

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"  May 5, 1911 French also traveled to and received animals from the antipodes Animals Create Commotion Animals and Birds for Local 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"

In his later years, French advised and contributed to the B.C. Provincial Museum's Open Collections helping to identify birds and waterfowl. Portions of his journal from his days in Bristol, several of his original oil paintings of flora and fauna, along with personal documents, are archived at the BC Royal Museum.

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).

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. Dora Jane French died in 1933 aged 49.

French Beach Park
In 1972 negotiations began between French's 12 surviving grandchildren and the B.C. Minister of Recreation and Conservation to acquire the French's Beach 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 Park officially opened on June 12, 1981.