Fonds AM291 - Jonathan Miller collection

Jonathan Miller (1834-1914) was born in Melbourne, Ontario, and married Margaret Springer in 1855. In 1862 he came to British Columbia with his brother-in-law, Benjamin Springer as part of the Cariboo gold rush. His wife, Margaret, and children joined him in 1864. During that same year, he became a member of the New Westminster City Council. Between 1866 and 1869 he was involved in the lumber trade. In 1871 he was appointed Granville townsite's first constable and government agent and collector for Burrard Inlet district. He was on the committee which drafted the charter of Vancouver and was the returning officer at the first mayoralty election. In 1886, Miller became Vancouver's first postmaster, a position he held until 1909, when he retired at the age of 75. He died in 1914.