| The Hudson's Bay Company |
| Expansion of the American West |
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| Left: Fort Vancouver Right: Fort Walla Walla |
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| Pierre Espirt Radisson and Medard Chouart Des Groseilliers (top right picture) are represented at the first trading post of Fort Charles/ Rupert established by the Hudson's Bay Company (HBC). The two Frenchmen played an important role in establishing the English company in America. |
| In 1670, a Royal Charter was granted to the company for lands in America, making it one of the largest private land holders in North American history. The Charter, bestowed by Charles II ("King of England, Scotland and Ireland") gave right "sole trade and commerce" in all the lands draining into Hudson Bay to the the King's Cousin, Prince Rupert and seventeen associates. They were described as "The Governor and Company of Adventurers of England trading into Hudson's Bay". These eighteeen men were to be, as the Charter said, "the true and absolute Lordes and Proprietors of the territory". In terms of land mass, the Adventurers obtained the provinces of what is today known as Ontario and Quebec north of the Laurentian watershed and west of the Labrador boundary. Also included were the entire provice of present day Manitoba, most of Saskatchewan, the southern half of Alberta, a large portion of the Northwest Territories, and part of present-day United States. In total the company controlled a basin of 1,486,000 square miles or land equaling 38.7% of today's Canada. |
| To verify the power and control the company had, in 1821 the British Crowd conceded to the Company not only "the powers vested in them by the Charter," but added trading license over the whole of British North America. The sole trading rights of HBC to the entire watershed of Hudson Bay were recognized at last. This license was renewed in 1838 for an additional twenty-one years. |
| It was not until 1868 that the Company lost their power. The Rupert's Land Act forced the surrender of most of Hudson's Bay Company lands to the government and its subseaquent transfer to Canada. The surender was accepted by the Crown on Jun 22, 1870 and came just two centuries after King Charles II had initially granted the Charter. In 1970, a new Charter granted at Westminister annulled all provisions of previous Charters except the incorporating section of the original 1670 Charter. |
| While in power, one of the main factors in controlling the land was the various forts and outpost that were scattered throughout the HBC's holdings. |
| Mercantilism - The Flow of Goods. Groups of voyageurs would search the regions looking for everything with fur. The furs would then be transported by canoe or horses to the forts, and the pelts would be repacked and either moved by canoe again or by boat to England. In the process, trade goods and supplies would be brought to the forts. Sugar and other trade items would also be purchased on the voyage back to England. |
| Two forts in the Columbia Department that interest me are Fort Walla Walla (in eastern Washington) and Fort Vancouver (WA), which served as the Headquaters of the Department. The head of the Columbia Department was the noted, Dr. John McLouglin (below - center picture) who later became known as the "Father of Oregon". |
| Class system and mixture of culture. The company consisted of a mixture of French-Canadian, English, Orkney, Hawaiian and Native Americans. The "gentlemen" or officers managed the departments and forts, while the "voyageurs" were those who worked and ventured out into the wilderness to trap furs (mainly the beaver), hunt and move the supplies through a network of water ways by large cargo canoes or by land. The pictures above (left and right) shows the bright, national and varied clothing styles worn by the voyageurs and "gentlemen" (officers) of the company. |
| Hudson's Bay Company Time-frame 1869 - Deed of Surrender signed granting Canada all of "Rupert's Land". 1820 - The North West Company unites with the Hudson's Bay Company. 1783 - The North West Company formed. 1690 - HBC's monopoly confirmed by British Parliment. 1670 - Prince Rupert (1619-1682), the cousin of the King of England, signs a charter forming the HBC. 1616 - Henry Hudson discovers Hudson Bay. 1600 - Fur trapping in Europe is depleted. Merchants and governments sought the rich furs in the Americas. Competition increased. 1534 - Jacques Cartier sets sail from France trading with the Mi'Kmag in search of the Northwest Passage. Links: Fort Langley Fort Langley http://www.canadiana.org |