British Columbia - Periods - First Contact

David Thompson

Placeholder image

David Thompson was a Canadian explorer, surveyor, and mapmaker who explored and mapped much of what is now western Canada and the northwestern United States in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. He is best known for his work mapping the Columbia River and for his detailed surveys of the Canadian West. Thompson was also one of the first Europeans to explore and map the Rocky Mountains. He was a skilled cartographer and surveyor, and his maps were considered to be some of the most accurate of the time. Thompson's work played a significant role in the development of the fur trade and the westward expansion of Canada.

In 1811, he was assigned to the Hudson's Bay Company's Columbia Department and tasked with mapping the territory and establishing trading posts. He explored the interior of British Columbia and discovered the source of the Fraser River. He also established trading posts along the Columbia and Fraser Rivers, and was the first European to cross the Rocky Mountains by land.

His mapping of the area was extensive and detailed, and his maps were used by the Hudson's Bay Company, settlers, and government officials for many years. He also made extensive observations of the indigenous peoples, their languages and cultures and also made a detailed report of the natural resources of the area. His explorations greatly expanded the European knowledge of the region and helped establish British Columbia as a hub for trade and commerce.

David Thompson is particularly known for his explorations of the Thompson River in British Columbia, Canada. He first visited the area in 1808 and spent several years exploring and mapping the region. The Thompson River is a major tributary of the Fraser River, which flows into the Pacific Ocean, and Thompson's mapping of the river and the surrounding region helped to establish it as an important trade and transportation route.

In 1811, Thompson established a trading post on the Thompson River, near present-day Kamloops. He built a cabin there and spent the winter of 1811-1812 living among the local indigenous people, the Secwepemc, to learn more about their culture and language. He then spent the next few years exploring the region and mapping the river and its tributaries.

His mapping of the Thompson River and its surrounding area was considered highly accurate, and his maps were used by fur traders, settlers, and government officials for many years. He also made extensive observations of the indigenous peoples and their cultures, and his explorations greatly expanded European knowledge of the region and helped establish it as an important center for trade and commerce.

In recognition of his exploration and mapping of the Thompson River, the river and the Thompson River valley were named in his honor.

Placeholder image



Recommended Read: First Across the Continent by Barry Gough



Timeline

  • David Thompson was born on April 30, 1770, and died on February 10, 1857.
  • 1784: Begins working as an apprentice for the Hudson's Bay Company at the age of 14.
  • 1797: Begins working for the North West Company as a surveyor and trader.
  • 1799: Meets his future wife, Charlotte Small, a mixed-race Cree woman.
  • 1807: Begins an expedition to map the Columbia River.
  • 1811: Assigned to the Hudson's Bay Company's Columbia Department and tasked with mapping the territory and establishing trading posts.
  • 1812: Marries Charlotte Small
  • 1811-1812: Spends the winter living among the Secwepemc people on the Thompson River.
  • 1812-1816: Explores and maps the Thompson River and its tributaries.
  • 1817: Retires from the Hudson's Bay Company and begins working on a book about his explorations.
  • 1857: Dies on February 10, 1857.

Culture & Politics

David Thompson's wife was a woman named Charlotte Small. She was a mixed-race Cree woman whom he met in 1799 while working as a surveyor and trader for the North West Company. They married in 1812 and had 13 children together. Charlotte was an important partner to Thompson throughout his career, and accompanied him on many of his expeditions. She was known for her skills as a cook and her ability to speak Cree and other indigenous languages.

David Thompson had a complex relationship with the Indigenous peoples he encountered during his explorations. On one hand, he was known for his respect for their cultures and for his efforts to learn their languages and customs. He made extensive observations of the indigenous peoples and their cultures and wrote about them in his journals. He also made an effort to establish trade relations with them, and his trading posts were often located in indigenous communities.

On the other hand, Thompson's work as a trader and explorer was part of the larger process of European colonization and the displacement of indigenous peoples from their lands. Thompson's explorations and mapping of the region helped to establish European control over the area and facilitated the arrival of settlers, many of whom displaced the indigenous peoples who had lived there for generations.

His relationship with the indigenous peoples was not always easy and had its share of conflicts but over time he developed deep respect for them and their culture. His journal reflects the same and provides a great deal of insight into the indigenous cultures and way of life of the time.

British Columbiahistory.ca is a visitor supported web site. If you would like to submit an article or opinion, please visit our blog at www.blog.British Columbiahistory.ca.

- Gough, B. M. (1997). First Across the Continent: Sir Alexander Mackenzie, University of Oklahoma Press.


References

Article by (Staff Historian), 2023

i

History & Heritage

Tel: 1 604 833-9488

Email: info@canadahistorysociety.ca

Access History creates and posts content, articles, and subject matter relating to history and heritage
Copyright 2025 to Access history. All rights reserved and images and logos are created and presented for the general use of the public and educational institutions All content is the responsibility of Access.
Use of this website constitutes acceptance of Access terms and conditions
Placeholder image

All content and images are protected by copyright to Access History