The British Columbia Parliament Buildings rose in Victoria after a pseudonymous entry by Francis Rattenbury won an open competition in the 1890s. This project defined his career in Canada, establishing a reputation for grand public architecture that drew on Neo-Romanesque traditions to symbolize the growing political and economic status of a new province.
Early Career and Canadian Arrival
Born in Leeds in 1867, Rattenbury began his training in 1884 as an apprentice at the Lockwood and Mawson Company. In 1891, he emigrated to Vancouver. His breakthrough occurred with the Victoria legislative project, which he secured despite a significant budget overage of $400,000. The structure, completed in 1898, featured a 500-foot facade and a prominent central dome, establishing his stature in the region.
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Rattenbury served as the Western Division Architect for the Canadian Pacific Railway, producing his most recognized hotel project, The Empress in Victoria, constructed between 1904 and 1908. He later attempted to pivot to the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway, designing stations and hotels that were never finished following the death of president Charles Melville Hays and the subsequent corporate bankruptcy. His later work included the 1923-1924 CPR Steamship Terminal and the Crystal Garden, projects often involving collaboration with Percy James.
Financial Ventures and Domestic Crisis
Beyond architecture, Rattenbury engaged in diverse business speculations, including supplying cattle to the Yukon Territory during the Klondike Gold Rush. His personal life underwent a severe transition in 1923 when he separated from his wife, Florence Eleanor Nunn. He later married Alma Pakenham in 1925. The couple briefly returned to Victoria before relocating to Bournemouth, England, in 1929, the same year Florence died.
Assassination in Bournemouth
Rattenbury’s residence in Bournemouth, known as Villa Madeira, became the site of his death in 1935. Following an attack with a carpenter's mallet by George Percy Stoner, the family's 18-year-old chauffeur, Rattenbury died on 28 March. While Alma was initially charged, she was acquitted after a high-profile trial. Stoner was sentenced to death, though his penalty was commuted to life imprisonment after a petition garnered 300,000 signatures. Alma died by suicide shortly after her acquittal.
Fast facts
- Born: 1867, Leeds
- Died: 28 March 1935, Bournemouth
- Buried: Wimborne Road Cemetery
- Primary Citizenship: Canada, United Kingdom
- Major Work: British Columbia Parliament Buildings
- Occupation: Architect
Questions readers ask
Did Francis Rattenbury receive formal architectural training?
No, he lacked formal education in architecture, which eventually hampered his career as the industry shifted toward professional, school-trained practitioners.
What happened to the man who murdered Francis Rattenbury?
George Percy Stoner was sentenced to death, but his sentence was commuted to life imprisonment. He served seven years, eventually joining the army and dying in 2000.
Achievements
- Notable work: British Columbia Parliament Buildings
