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Francis John Mavis was born January 5, 1871 in Jarrow Durham, England to parents Alexander and Mary Mavis. He came to Canada with them, and arrived on the west coast on the second trip of train number 374 in Port Moody on July 1, 1887. He wanted to be a seaman, so returned to England to continue an apprenticeship. He obtained his engineer's certificate in England on April 28, 1893, after a five year apprenticeship with Palmer Ship Building and Iron Co. Ltd. in Jarrow-Upon-Tyne. Frank became the third engineer on the S.S. Ben Clume out of North Shields England from November 12, 1893 to January 14, 1895. He then left Liverpool for Canada on the Canadian Pacific Railway Company's "R. M. S. Empress of Japan's" maiden voyage around South America. He served on the ship as assistant engineer from August 1896 to June 1897, and fourth engineer from June-August 1897. He left this employment on August 20, 1897. Coming to stay with his parents in Fort Langley for a time, Frank left again, and on September 7, 1899, he was placed in charge of the British American Steamers for a couple of years. He took up employment with the White Pass and Yukon Route from April 15, 1901- October 27, 1909. He married Eliza May Fleming on December 17, 1902 in St. George's Anglican Church, in Fort Langley. The couple had six children: Harry Russell, Francis Alexander, Robert James, Edward Albion, Ida Winnifred, and Hubert David. "Frank", as he was known, became one of the best known marine engineers in the north. Francis John Mavis died November 4, 1935, in Burnaby, B.C. He is buried in the Fort Langley Cemetery.
Term Source: The Langley Story, pg 258 (Waite), Fort Langley Cemetery, pg 33 (Hannay).