Background
Born in Lockerbie, Scotland, the son of William Gifford and Margaret Stewart, he was educated there and apprenticed as a jeweller.
Born in Lockerbie, Scotland, the son of William Gifford and Margaret Stewart, he was educated there and apprenticed as a jeweller.
He opened his own store in Lockerbie around 1876. They had three more children - Julia Stuart (b 8 August 1888), Hugh Wilson (b 29 May 1892), and John Jardine (b 25 November 1893) - and lived the rest of their lives in New Westminster. Thomas was elected to the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia in a 1901 by-election held after John Cunningham Brown was named to cabinet, and was re-elected in 1903, 1907, 1909 and 1912.
He died in New Westminster at the age of 81.
Gifford served as an alderman for New Westminster, as well as a member of the school board, hospital board and Board of Trade.