I recently finished — finally — the Dummies Guide to Canadian History. I recommend it highly, if anyone is interested in polishing up on their history of the Great White North. It’s quick, to the point, easy to read, and doesn’t leave a bad aftertaste.

One of the most interesting characters from Canadian history, as described in the book, was Amor de Cosmos.

 

(photo from The Canadian Encyclopedia. Sweet beard!)

 

He was born in Windsor, NS., in 1825 as William Alexander Smith . Hearing rumors about gold in California, he decided to move to the West Coast 1851. When he arrived in California and discovered that gold wasn’t just floating downriver and that you actually had to dredge for it, he decided to switch his focus and took up photography . It is rumored that he invented the concept of using photography to take pictures of naked people, and so was born the California porn industry that has, today, grown into a billion-dollar industry. It might be that Amor de Cosmos is the Father of porn.

 

(Is this an Amor de Cosmos original? Could be.)

 

Of course you won’t find any of this information in history books. At least not history books that discuss actual history and that are worried about ‘facts’ and ‘truth’. Boring history, I like to call it.

 

While in California he petitioned the Government to change his name from William to Amor. A bold move! Another rumor circulated that he made the name change in an attempt to avoid the Yakuza who had just settled in California and were trying to muscle their way into the 1800’s porn industry. Boring history will tell you that he changed it because of his love for the universe. It’s also rumored that he’s the Father of the New Age movement in California.

 

Amos de Cosmos fathered a lot of things.

 

Tiring of beach parties and the California sex-scene, he moved on to wetter climes and took up residence back in British North America when he settled in Victoria on Vancouver Island in 1859.

 

In Victoria he founded a newspaper, The Daily British Colonist. It can be said, accurately, that he is the Father of the Daily British Colonist. Whoopie.

 

A proponent of social progress, and an all around nice guy, he decided to throw his hat into the political ring and became a member of the Legislative Assembly of Vancouver Island in 1863. He had two main goals: the Union of Vancouver Island and British Columbia (at this time two separate colonies), and the entry of British Columbia into confederation with the rest of Canada. Through his work on these goals he is known as one of the Fathers of Confederation. That’s true.

 

So who was Amor de Cosmos, really? Politician? Adventurer? All around good-timey guy? All of the above, friend, all of the above.

 

Amor de Cosmos is the first entry into the Canadian Fermentation Hall of Fame. Well done, Amor. You are a true Canadian Hero!

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