British Columbia - Periods - First Contact

Hudson Bay Company

Placeholder image

The Hudson's Bay Company (HBC) is a Canadian retail company that was founded in 1670. It is the oldest commercial corporation in North America, and it was originally formed to trade furs with Indigenous peoples in what is now Canada. The company's main business was the fur trade, but it also traded other goods and had a number of retail stores throughout Canada. HBC was a key player in the exploration and colonization of Canada, and it played a significant role in the development of the Canadian economy.

The Hudson's Bay Company (HBC) had a significant presence in the Pacific Northwest region of North America, specifically in what is now British Columbia and the Oregon Territory. The company established several trading posts in the region, including Fort Vancouver in 1824, which became the main center of operations for HBC in the Pacific Northwest. The company also expanded into the Oregon Territory, which was jointly occupied by the United States and Great Britain as part of the Oregon Treaty of 1846. HBC established several trading posts in the region, including Fort Nisqually, Fort Victoria, and Fort Langley. HBC's expansion into the Pacific Northwest region was driven by the desire to control the fur trade in the region. The company had a virtual monopoly on the fur trade in the region and played a major role in the economic development of the area. However, the company's presence in the region also had a significant impact on Indigenous peoples, who were sometimes displaced but more often developed intricate trading relationships with the HBC while their traditional way of life influnced by the arrival of European settlers and traders. In 1846, the Oregon Treaty was signed, which established the 49th parallel as the border between the British territories and the US ones. Fort Vancouver and the other HBC's trading posts south of that line were ceded to the US.

Fort Victoria, also known as Fort Camosun, was established by the Hudson's Bay Company (HBC) in 1843 in present-day British Columbia, Canada. The fort was built to establish a HBC presence in the southern Vancouver Island and to challenge the American presence in the region, as the Oregon Territory was jointly occupied by the United States and Great Britain as part of the Oregon Treaty of 1846.

The fort was strategically located at the southern tip of Vancouver Island, near the mouth of the Juan de Fuca Strait, which gave HBC access to the rich fur trade of the region. The fort was also an important center for trade with local Indigenous peoples, who traded furs and other goods with HBC in exchange for European goods.

Fort Victoria quickly became a major center for trade and commerce in the Pacific Northwest. It served as a hub for the fur trade, and it also played a key role in the development of the region's agriculture and fishing industries. The fort was also an important center for the provision of supplies for the HBC's other posts in the Pacific Northwest.

The establishment of Fort Victoria also had a significant impact on the local Indigenous peoples. The fort became a melting pot of different cultures and nationalities. It was a home to Indigenous, European and American employees, and it was a place where different cultures and nationalities met, worked and lived together.

In 1858, with the discovery of gold in the Fraser River and the resulting gold rush, the population of the colony of Vancouver Island grew rapidly, and Fort Victoria became the capital of the colony and the main port of entry.

Placeholder image



Recommended Read: First Across the Continent by Barry Gough

Timeline

  • 1670: The Hudson's Bay Company is founded by King Charles II of England. The company is granted a royal charter to trade furs with Indigenous peoples in what is now Canada.
  • 1700s: The HBC establishes a number of trading posts in what is now Canada, including Fort Albany, Fort York, and Fort Churchill.
  • 1821: The HBC and the North West Company, another major fur trading company, merge to form the largest fur trading company in North America.
  • 1824: The HBC establishes Fort Vancouver in the Pacific Northwest, which becomes the main center of operations for the company in the region.
  • 1843: The HBC establishes Fort Victoria in present-day British Columbia, Canada.
  • 1846: The Oregon Treaty is signed, which establishes the 49th parallel as the border between British and American territories. Fort Vancouver and other HBC trading posts south of the border are ceded to the United States.
  • 1858: The discovery of gold in the Fraser River leads to a gold rush, and Fort Victoria becomes the capital of the colony of Vancouver Island.
  • 1870: The HBC's monopoly on the fur trade in Canada is ended by the Canadian government.
  • 1971: The HBC is granted a new royal charter by Queen Elizabeth II.

Culture & Politics

The culture of the Hudson's Bay Company (HBC) in the early Pacific Northwest was heavily influenced by the company's focus on the fur trade. The HBC had a virtual monopoly on the fur trade in the region, and this was reflected in the company's culture and practices.

The HBC was a hierarchical organization, with a clear chain of command. The governor of the HBC, based in London, had ultimate authority over all operations in the Pacific Northwest. Beneath the governor were the chief factors, who were in charge of specific trading posts and regions. They had significant autonomy in their operations but were still answerable to the governor. The company employees were known as "servants" and were expected to follow strict rules and regulations, including a strict dress code.

The HBC's culture was also heavily influenced by the company's relationship with the Indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest. The company relied heavily on the Indigenous peoples for the fur trade and had a complex relationship with them. The HBC employed Indigenous peoples as trappers and guides, and also relied on them for other services such as transportation and provisions. HBC also established a system of payments to the Indigenous peoples for the furs they provided, which was an important source of income for many Indigenous communities.

The HBC culture was also heavily influenced by the company's relationship with other European powers. The company was in competition with other European trading companies for control of the fur trade and resources in the Pacific Northwest. This competition often led to tensions and conflicts between the HBC and other European powers, particularly the American companies.

In summary, the culture of the HBC in the early Pacific Northwest was shaped by the company's focus on the fur trade, its hierarchical organizational structure, its relationship with the Indigenous peoples, and its competition with other European powers.

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.

Reference: 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