Sir Charles Hayward (1839 – 1919) was born in Stratford, Essex, England, the son of Charles Hayward and Harriet Tomlinson. He apprenticed as a carpenter and joiner. He arrived in to Victoria, British Columbia in 1862 aboard the American built royal-yard rigged wooden clipper Sierra Nevada. That same year he married Sarah Chesney. Hayward entered the contracting business then fulfilled a much-needed niche as a coffin builder. In 1867 he established a very successful funeral business, Hayward’s Funeral Service. The business remains in operation as of this writing (2018). Hayward also became involved in mining, building and manufacturing.
He served as an alderman in 1873, 1874 and 1899 and served as chairman of the Victoria School Board and as a Justice of the Peace. From 1900–1902 he served as the 25th mayor of Victoria, British Columbia. Hayward’s son Reginald also served as mayor (1922–1924), they remain the only father and son mayors in Victoria history.
Hayward died in 1919 in Victoria, British Columbia at the age of 80.
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