Fur Trade Rivalry: Hudson's Bay Company vs. North West Company (1779–1821)

1. HBC establishes Cumberland House as inland post

   Jan 1, 1774Labels: Cumberland House, Samuel Hearne, Hudson's Bay

   • Britannica
   • CAA

2. North West Company partnership formed in Montreal

   Jan 1, 1779Labels: North West, Montreal, Independent traders

   • Britannica
   • NWC Wiki

3. NWC absorbs rivals in major 1787 reorganization

   Jan 1, 1787Labels: North West, Gregory McLeod, Reorganization

   • NWC Wiki
   • Manitoba Hist

4. XY Company formed to challenge the NWC

   Jan 1, 1798Labels: XY Company, Montreal, New North

   • XY Co Wiki
   • NWC Wiki

5. NWC begins shifting rendezvous from Grand Portage

   Jan 1, 1802Labels: North West, Grand Portage, Lake Superior

   • NPS History
   • Fort William HP

6. Fort William rendezvous begins after Grand Portage

   Jan 1, 1803Labels: Fort William, Kaministiquia River, North West

   • NPS History
   • Fort William HP

7. XY Company merges into the NWC

   Jan 1, 1804Labels: XY Company, North West, Merger

   • XY Co Wiki
   • NWC Wiki

8. Fort Kaministiquia renamed Fort William

   Jan 1, 1807Labels: Fort William, William McGillivray, North West

   • Fort William HP
   • VAC Plaque

9. NWC builds Fort Gibraltar at Red River Forks

   Jan 1, 1809Labels: Fort Gibraltar, Red River, North West

   • Fort Gibraltar
   • Selkirk Chron

10. HBC grants Selkirk Concession for Red River colony

    Jan 1, 1811Labels: Selkirk Concession, Thomas Douglas, Hudson's Bay

    • MHS Trans
    • Red River Wiki

11. Pemmican Proclamation restricts exports from Red River

    Jan 1, 1814Labels: Pemmican Proclamation, Miles Macdonell, Red River

    • Pemmican Proc
    • Pemmican War

12. Battle of Seven Oaks kills Governor Semple

    Jun 19, 1816Labels: Battle of, Robert Semple, M tis

    • Britannica
    • Seven Oaks

13. Selkirk seizes Fort William and arrests NWC partners

    Aug 12, 1816Labels: Lord Selkirk, Fort William, De Meuron

    • Seven Oaks
    • McGill Gazette

14. Parliament’s Fur Trade Act and merger end rivalry

    Jun 1, 1821Labels: Fur Trade, Parliament, Hudson's Bay

    • Parks Canada
    • Nat Archives