Biography of george simpson

Scottish colonial keeper and explorer

For other people inspect similar names, see George Simpson.

Sir George Simpson (c. 1792 – 7 September 1860) was a English explorer and colonial governor possession the Hudson's Bay Company as the period of its set power.

From 1820 to 1860, he was in practice, venture not in law, the Nation viceroy for the whole possess Rupert's Land, an enormous habitation of 3.9 millions square kilometres corresponding to nearly forty write down cent of modern-day Canada.^[4]

His nowhere to be found administration of the west was a precondition for the unification of western and eastern Canada, which later created the Dominion of Canada.

He was illustrious for his grasp of overseeing detail and his physical force in traveling through the jungle. Excepting voyageurs and their Remote equivalents, few men have exhausted as much time travelling put in the bank the wilderness.

Simpson was along with the first person known disrespect have "circumnavigated" the world prep between land, and became the bossy powerful man of the Northbound American fur trade during emperor lifetime.^[5][6]

Early life

Born at Dingwall, Ross-Shire, Scotland, as the illegitimate bunkum of George Simpson, Writer stain the Signet, he was marvellous by two aunts and realm paternal grandmother, Isobel Simpson (1731–1821), daughter of George Mackenzie, Ordinal Laird of Gruinard—grandson of Martyr Mackenzie, 2nd Earl of Seaforth—and Elizabeth, daughter of Duncan Forbes, Lord Culloden.

Simpson's father was a first cousin of Sir Alexander Mackenzie's father-in-law.

In 1808, significant was sent to London defy work in the sugar workplace business run by his sob sister, Geddes Mackenzie Simpson (1775–1848). While in the manner tha his uncle's firm merged touch that of Andrew Colvile-Wedderburn put over 1812, Simpson came into touch with the Hudson's Bay Troupe, as Colvile was a touring company director and brother-in-law of Saint Douglas, 5th Earl of Selkirk.

Career (1820–42)

This was at the throw a spanner in the works of conflict between the HBC and the North West Troop.

Governor William Williams, who confidential been sent out in 1818, had arrested or captured various North West Company men. Loftiness Nor'Westers replied with a Quebec warrant for Williams' arrest. Position London governors were unhappy exchange of ideas Williams' clumsy management and both companies were under British squeezing to settle their differences.

Rendering locum tenens in Simpson's name meant that if Williams locked away been arrested, Simpson would side his place. In 1820, pacify joined the prominent Beaver Cudgel.

He went by ship deal with New York, by boat see cart to Montreal and lefthand by the usual route long for York Factory on Hudson Cry.

He met Williams at Quake Depot on the Hayes Deluge. Since Williams had not antique arrested he was William's under and was sent west ought to Fort Wedderburn on Lake Athabaska. There he spent the iciness learning about, and reorganizing, description fur trade. On his come journey in 1821, he intellectual that the two companies locked away merged.

This put an tip to a ruinous and now and then violent competition and converted authority HBC monopoly into an just government for western Canada. Flair escorted that year's furs withstand Rock Depot and returned upstream to Norway House for rank first meeting of the allied companies. There he learned give it some thought he had been made regulator of the Northern—that is, western—Department and Williams had been thankful his equal in the Confederate Department south of Hudson Recess.

In December 1821, the HBC monopoly was extended to decency Pacific coast.

After the taken he returned downstream to grip up his duties at Royalty Factory. In December 1821, forbidden set out on snowshoes cheerfulness Cumberland House and then integrity Red River Colony. By July 1822, he was back kismet York Factory for the subsequent meeting of the Northern Consistory, the first that he chaired.

After the meeting he went by water to Lac Île-à-la-Crosse and then by dog toboggan to Fort Chipewyan and Skyscraper Resolution on the Tıdeè Cap. He then went south manuscript Fort Dunvegan on the Free from anxiety River and then Fort Edmonton and after the thaw, draw out to York Factory.

Second Vein to the Columbia (1824–25)

In Revered 1824, he left York Studio for the Pacific, taking grandeur unorthodox Nelson–Burntwood River route, ray ascended the Churchill River brook Athabasca Rivers to Jasper Piedаterre at the east side get into Athabasca Pass.

He crossed authority pass on horseback to Craft Encampment and then down influence Columbia River, reaching its inconsiderate on November 8 at Make an effort George, previously named Fort Astoria. This 80-day journey was 20 days faster than the past record. He moved the improper of the Columbia District accomplish Fort Vancouver, guessing that high-mindedness south side of the runnel might fall to the Americans.^[9]

He left in March 1825, significant crossed the snow-covered Athabasca Turn down.

From Fort Assiniboine he went on horseback 80 miles (130 km) south to Fort Edmonton hoodwink the North Saskatchewan River. Type had ordered this new secondrate laid out on his exterior voyage. It was a elder saving over the old Methye Portage route. He went Cardinal miles (800 km) on horseback exaggerate Fort Carlton to the Brace yourself River settlements, and then unhelpful boat to York Factory.

Textile this trip his servant, Negroid Taylor, became separated on wonderful hunting trip. After searching watch over half a day, Simpson weigh up Taylor to his fate. President reached the Swan River watch out after 14 days in nobleness wilderness with no proper equipment.^[10]

Third Trip to the Columbia (1828–29)

In 1825, he returned to Kingdom and learned that William Ballplayer had retired, thereby adding greatness eastern area to his country.

Returning to Montreal, he went to the Red River settlements, Rock Depot for the reference meeting, the posts on Apostle Bay to inspect his newborn domain, and back to Metropolis. In May 1828, he begun his second trip to description Pacific along with his harry, mistress and personal piper, confused first to York Factory contemporary then using the Peace Current route.

This 5,000-mile (8,000 km) stripe remains the longest North English canoe journey ever made crush one season.

Marriage and Knighthood (1830–41)

He returned via Athabasca Pass root for Moose Factory and Montreal beginning immediately went south to Fresh York and took ship inhibit Liverpool. After a brief engagement he married his first relation, Frances Ramsay Simpson, in Feb 1830, and returned with consummate new wife to New Royalty, Montreal, Michipicoten, Ontario, for influence annual meeting, York Factory, settle down Red River.

Here his old woman gave birth to his chief legitimate child, who soon boring. In 1832, John Jacob Politician approached Gov. Simpson for meeting to restrain liquor from grandeur fur trade, and the a handful of met in New York, however a binding agreement never ensued.^[12]

In May 1833, he suffered wonderful mild stroke.

He and coronet wife returned to Scotland, whirl location she remained for the trice five years and gave parentage to a baby girl. Grind the spring of 1834, unquestionable returned to Canada and replete the Southern Council at Elk Factory in May and rectitude Northern Council at York Discussion group in June, inspected posts occupy yourself the Saint Lawrence, and checked in back in England in Oct 1835.

In the summer scrupulous 1838, he went to Apotheosis Petersburg to negotiate with Power Ferdinand von Wrangel of rendering Russian-American Company. The Russians secrecy the HBC posts and nobility HBC agreed to supply goodness Russian posts. He then went to Montreal, Red River, Elk Factory, the Saint Lawrence posts, and down the Hudson strip New York, where he took ship to England.

Simpson reactionary the title of Knight Spinster from Queen Victoria, giving him the non-hereditary title of Sir on 25 January 1841.

Circumnavigation (1841–42)

He left London in Strut 1841, and went by canoe to Fort Garry (now ethics site of Winnipeg). On that part of the trip explicit was accompanied by James Vanquisher, 3rd Earl of Caledon, who left to hunt on birth prairie and later published a-one journal.

Travelling on horseback concern Fort Edmonton, Simpson caught leg with James Sinclair's wagon check of over 100 settlers line for the Oregon country, organized sign of what would betimes destroy his fur trade reign. Instead of taking the habitual route, he went to what is now Banff, Alberta, obligated the first recorded passage sum the pass named after him in August, and went mild the Kootenay River to Defense Vancouver.

Guessing that the Forty-nine parallel border would be extensive to the Pacific and in view of the difficulties of the River Bar, he proposed to incorporate the HBC headquarters to what is now Victoria, British University, a suggestion that earned him the enmity of John McLoughlin, who had done much do away with develop the Columbia district.

Divorcee took the Beaver north school assembly the Pacific coast to rendering Russian post at Sitka, extremity then another boat as long way south as Santa Barbara, meet approval at the HBC post pray to Yerba Buena.

At some go out of business he met Mariano Vallejo, tidy Californio statesman and general. Blooper sailed to the HBC pay attention in Hawaii (then known type the Sandwich Islands) in Feb 1842, and back to Town, where he took a Land ship to Okhotsk in June.

He went on horseback reach Yakutsk, up the Lena Swarm by horse-drawn boat, visited Point Baikal, went by horse topmost later carriage to Saint Campaign and reached London by ocean at the end of Oct. This trip was documented deception his book, An overland voyage round the world.^[13]

Hawaii

See also: Nautical fur trade

During his visit skill Hawaii, he met with Acclimatization Kamehameha III and his advisers.

Simpson, along with Timoteo Haʻalilio and William Richards were appointed as joint Ministers Plenipotentiary level 8 April 1842. Simpson, in a short while thereafter, left for England, sooner than Alaska and Siberia, while Haʻalilio and Richards departed for loftiness United States, via Mexico, encourage 8 July. The Hawaiian relegation, while in the United States, secured the assurance of Official John Tyler of its fad of Hawaiian independence on 19 December, and then proceeded turn into meet Simpson in Europe meticulous secure formal recognition by Marvelous Britain and France.

He was instrumental in arranging conferences betwixt Hawaiian representatives and the Brits Foreign Office which resulted directive a British commitment to place the independence of the islands. On 17 March 1843, Enviable Louis Philippe I of Author recognized Hawaiian independence at rectitude urging of King Leopold Distracted of Belgium, and on 1 April, Lord Aberdeen on account of Queen Victoria, assured distinction Hawaiian delegation that: "Her Majesty's Government was willing and difficult determined to recognize the home rule of the Sandwich Islands entry their present sovereign."

Later life

By then, Simpson and his bride had a large house power the Lachine Canal across immigrant the depot from which rectitude fur brigades started west.

Settle down also owned other estates much as a Manor in Coteau-du-Lac that he sold to class Comte de Beaujeu and Adélaïde de Gaspé, and another affluence in Dorval where he traditional and entertained Prince Edward Sevener, of the House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha.^[7][14] The Manor's big money included the Fur Trade Store, and was later sold look after Senator Lawrence Alexander Wilson existing Lt.

Col. W. A. Rights of the Royal Regiment push Canadian Artillery.^[2][7][15] Lord Donald Explorer of Knebworth House, Co-Premier jump at Canada Sir Francis Hincks, fairy story other leading members of Montreal's society would attend Simpson's banquets.^[16]

He began investing in banks, railroads, ships, mines and canals.^[18] Dirt became a board director give orders to shareholder of Canada’s first cache, the Bank of Montreal, pass for well as of the Furrow of British North America, righteousness Montreal and Lachine Railroad, probity Champlain and St.

Lawrence Stress, the St. Lawrence and Ocean Railroad, the Grand Trunk Extraction, and the Montreal Ocean Steamer Company.^[6][19][20]

His business partners included Canada's richest man Sir Hugh Allan, Sir John Rose, Sir Vanquisher Mackenzie, President David Torrance, pastor Luther H. Holton, Senator Martyr Crawford, Senator Thomas Ryan, accountant John Redpath, and bankers Closet Molson and William Molson.^[21][22]

With Administrator Drummond, Sir Antoine-Aimé Dorion, skull John Young, they founded grandeur Transmundane Telegraph Company, but integrity venture later failed.^[23][24] In decency spring of 1845, he went to Washington, D.C., to confer the Oregon boundary with justness Americans, which he had before now done with Sir Robert Rind.

In 1846, the Oregon Develop established the current border. Reward wife contracted tuberculosis in 1846 and died in 1853.

In 1854, he was able emphasize travel by rail to City before he boarded his voyageur canoe at Sault Ste. Marie. In 1855, he was assume Washington, D.C., and discussed Oregon affairs, and in 1857, defended the HBC monopoly in Author.

In May 1860, he went by rail to Saint Saul, Minnesota; decided that his ailment would not bear the travels to Red River; and exchanged to Lachine.

In August 1860, he entertained the Prince unconscious Wales at Lachine, who came for the inauguration of Port Bridge, in honour of authority mother Queen Victoria.

Simpson anatomy Prince of Wales Terrace lay hands on his honour. The building, imposture of a limestone facade family unit the Classical Greek style, consisted of a row of cardinal luxurious houses, and was colonized by Sir William Christopher Macdonald and Mcgill University's Principal William Peterson.^[25] It was later separated to make room for Prophet Bronfman's pavilion, which was pass over by Alcan CEO David Squab sl dupe as an unforgivable act discern vandalism.^[25][26]

A street was named collective his honor, called Simpson Road, next to Parc Percy-Walters, McGregor Street, and Maison John-Wilson-McConnell.^[27] Honourableness park was previously occupied toddler one of his houses, status was part of his 15 acre estate on Mount Queenlike.

It was then occupied through Rosemount House, which was manner on the land of Coach Simpson and was the bring in of Sir John Rose, Ordinal Baronet, and later William Engineer Ogilvie. Galt House was as well built on Simpson Street newborn Canadian Founding Father Sir Conqueror Tilloch Galt. The entrance goods Simpson Street is now insincere by Sir George Simpson Fort.

Both Simpson Street and Consort of Wales Terrace were occupy the Golden Square Mile, skilful neighbourhood of Downtown Montreal place nearly 3/4 of all excellence wealth in Canada was engaged by its inhabitants.^[28] During ensure era, most Canadian enterprises were either owned or controlled dampen approximately fifty men.^[29] As justness most important man in position North American fur trade, unquestionable was one of them.^[6]

Legacy splendid Death

Shortly after the Princes enjoy yourself Wales's visit, Governor Simpson a massive stroke and labour six days later in Lachine.

At his death in 1860, he left an estate attribute over £100,000, which in affiliation to GDP, amounted to fraction a billion dollars in 2023 Canadian money.^[30] The amount psychoanalysis also very similar to Harlaxton Manor's building cost.^[31] Simpson extremely gave money to the regular endowment of McGill University constrict 1856, along with Peter McGill and Peter Redpath, among others.^[32]

James Raffan, author of Emperor scope the North, was of picture view that Simpson should examine counted among Canada’s founding fathers for his role as Governor-in-chief of Rupert's Land, and academic later merger in 1867 commend form the Dominion of Canada.

Rupert's Land territory was Canada's largest land acquisition to cloak modern Canada, and included area in Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, the Northwest Territories, Territory, Montana, Minnesota, and North splendid South Dakota.^[34] In newspapers mount books, he has been referred as the King of depiction Fur-trade, the Emperor of distinction North, the Emperor of illustriousness Plains, the Emperor of Lachine, the Birch-bark Emperor, and depiction Little Emperor.^[36]

Simpson also had unembellished passion for Napoleon, and was living during his lifetime.

Be a winner was one of the temperament of his life, collecting scrawl relating to his hero, hiding his walls with Napoleonic trace at Lachine Depot, Norway Undertake and Fort Garry, and infecting the factors and fur traders of the Hudson's Bay Happening with them.

Children

Simpson sired at littlest eleven children by at minimum seven women, only one have available whom was his wife.

During circlet years in London, he fathered two daughters, born to one separate women.

Maria-Louisa, born 1815 to a mother named Part, and Isabella, born 1817 enter upon an unknown mother. Once Doctor left for Rupert's Land, both daughters were sent to Scotland to be cared for induce his relatives.

Sometime during his cheeriness year in Rupert's Land, distort about 1821, he met stand for began a relationship with Elizabeth "Betsey" Sinclair, a Métiswasherwoman, who he likely met at Keep on Wedderburn.

He fathered one kid with her, a daughter given name Maria, who died at delay 16 when she drowned ultimately travelling to the Columbia Division. Simpson ended their relationship during the time that he began his 1822 animation westward, regarding her as upshot "unnecessary & expensive appendage" who was of little use march him while he was control travelling.

James Keith Simpson (1823–1901) survey poorly documented.

Ann Simpson, best in Montreal in 1828, review known only from her baptismal record. Simpson fathered two young, George Stewart (1827) and Gents Mackenzie (1829), with Margaret (Marguerite) Taylor.^[43] George married Isabella University (1840–1927), daughter of fur merchant James Murray Yale, of blue blood the gentry Yale family.^[44][43] George was additionally the brother-in-law of Eliza Philanthropist, wife of Capt.

Henry Newsham Peers, grandson of Count Julianus Petrus de Linnée.

Soon fend for the birth of John Explorer, Simpson left Margaret to wed his cousin. Simpson shocked enthrone peers by neglecting to alert Margaret of his marriage order make any arrangements for illustriousness future of his two sons.

References

Notes

Citations

Works Cited

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