The English Fur Trade
Their Goal
The British, unlike the French, weren't really interested in creating a colony in North America. In 1670, the English king decided to grant a charter for control of the fur trade to the Hudson's Bay Company. The English had one goal, and that was to make money. This goal, affected the relationship between the English fur traders and First Nations trappers. The competition between the English and the French, came to an abrupt stop in 1760, when New France became under control of the British.
Why choose the Hudson Bay?
The English built all of their forts along the shore of the Hudson Bay, but why?
Important People - Isabel Gunn
John Scarth, Isabel Gunn's boyfriend, traveled from Scotland to Canada to work for the Hudson's Bay Company. Isabel decided to follow him in 1806. Women were forbid to work for the company, so Isabel had to disguise herself as John Fubbister. She worked for the company for two years, performing all the duties expected of the men at the fort. "John" was never suspected as a women, until she gave birth to a baby. The baby was the first non-aboriginal child born in the Northwest. Afterwards, Isabel reunited with her boyfriend in Grandes Fourches. Later on, she worked at the Hudson's Bay Company for another year, when she took her baby to a post on Hudson Bay. In that year, she took in the laundry, and after returned home to Scotland.
The British, unlike the French, weren't really interested in creating a colony in North America. In 1670, the English king decided to grant a charter for control of the fur trade to the Hudson's Bay Company. The English had one goal, and that was to make money. This goal, affected the relationship between the English fur traders and First Nations trappers. The competition between the English and the French, came to an abrupt stop in 1760, when New France became under control of the British.
Why choose the Hudson Bay?
The English built all of their forts along the shore of the Hudson Bay, but why?
- The Hudson Bay was close to the fur supply of the northern forests. Furs in the northern area are much better because animals grow the thickest fur in the coldest climates.
- Many rivers flow into the bay. The rivers provided good transportation routes for the First Nation trappers.
- Many large supply ships could deliver supplies directly to the English Forts. The French route was much longer, as the ships had to cross the sea to Montreal, and a journey by canoe to reach the furs. The Hudson's Bay Company could get furs to the English in one year, while it would take the French two.
Important People - Isabel Gunn
John Scarth, Isabel Gunn's boyfriend, traveled from Scotland to Canada to work for the Hudson's Bay Company. Isabel decided to follow him in 1806. Women were forbid to work for the company, so Isabel had to disguise herself as John Fubbister. She worked for the company for two years, performing all the duties expected of the men at the fort. "John" was never suspected as a women, until she gave birth to a baby. The baby was the first non-aboriginal child born in the Northwest. Afterwards, Isabel reunited with her boyfriend in Grandes Fourches. Later on, she worked at the Hudson's Bay Company for another year, when she took her baby to a post on Hudson Bay. In that year, she took in the laundry, and after returned home to Scotland.