Hudson's Bay Company facts for kids
| Private | |
| Industry | Retail |
| Founded | 2 May 1670 London, England |
| Headquarters | U.S.: 225 Liberty Street New York, NY 10281 Canada: 401 Bay Street Toronto, Ontario, M5H 2Y4 |
|
Key people
|
Richard Baker (governor, executive chairman and CEO) |
| Revenue | |
| Owner | NRDC Equity Partners (48%) |
|
Number of employees
|
30,000 (2017) |
| Divisions |
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The Hudson's Bay Company (HBC), also known as the Compagnie de la Baie d'Hudson in French, is a Canadian company that owns and runs retail stores. For most of its history, it was a major fur trading business. It grew to become the oldest and largest company in Canada. Today, its most famous store is Hudson's Bay, often called The Bay.
In 1670, the King of England gave HBC a special right. This right allowed them to be the only company to trade in a huge area called Rupert's Land. This land covered a big part of what is now Canada. HBC acted like the government in Rupert's Land for almost 200 years. In 1869, HBC gave control of this land to Canada. At its busiest, the company controlled the fur trade across much of North America. By the mid-1800s, HBC started selling many different products. They sold everything from furs to fancy home goods in special shops. These shops were the first step towards the department stores we see today.
In 2006, an American businessman named Jerry Zucker bought HBC. Later, in 2008, NRDC Equity Partners bought HBC. This company also owned the American department store Lord & Taylor. HBC's main office in the U.S. is in New York City. Its Canadian main office is in Toronto. By 2019, HBC had sold most of its stores in Europe.
Until 2020, HBC was listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange. Then, Richard Baker and other owners made the company private. As of 2022, HBC owns most of the online shopping companies Saks Fifth Avenue and Saks Off 5th. HBC also fully owns the physical Saks Fifth Avenue stores. They also own the Hudson's Bay stores and The Bay online marketplace. In 2024, HBC announced plans to buy the Neiman Marcus Group.
HBC also owns or controls a lot of real estate. This is managed by its property and investment branch, HBC Properties and Investments.
Contents
Exploring the History of Hudson's Bay Company
How HBC Started in the 1600s
For much of the 1600s, French settlers in North America controlled the fur trade. Two French traders, Pierre-Esprit Radisson and Médard des Groseilliers, heard about a great fur area north of Lake Superior. They also heard about a "frozen sea" even further north. They thought this was Hudson Bay. They wanted to set up a trading post there. This would make it cheaper to move furs.
However, the French governor did not want them to explore this new route. He worried it would move the fur trade away from the St. Lawrence River. Despite this, Radisson and Groseilliers went anyway in 1659. They returned to Montreal a year later with many valuable furs. This showed how much potential the Hudson Bay area had. But, French officials arrested them for trading without a license. Their furs were taken away.
Radisson and Groseilliers then went to Boston to find English merchants to help them. Their first trip in 1663 failed when their ship hit ice. But, an English commissioner named Colonel George Cartwright heard their story. He brought them to England to find money for their plans. They arrived in London in 1665.
Eventually, they met Prince Rupert, who became their sponsor. Prince Rupert introduced them to his cousin, King Charles II. In 1668, the English got two ships, the Nonsuch and the Eaglet. They wanted to explore trade in Hudson Bay. Groseilliers sailed on the Nonsuch. Radisson sailed on the Eaglet, but it had to turn back.
The Nonsuch continued to James Bay, a southern part of Hudson Bay. In 1668, they built the first fort on Hudson Bay there. It was called Charles Fort, at the mouth of the Rupert River. It later became known as "Rupert House." This fort and river were named after Prince Rupert. After a successful trading trip, the Nonsuch returned to England in 1669. It brought back the first furs from Hudson Bay. These furs proved that trading in Hudson Bay could be very successful.
King Charles II officially created "The Governor and Company of Adventurers of England, trading into Hudson's Bay" on May 2, 1670. This special paper, called a royal charter, gave the company a monopoly. This meant they were the only ones allowed to trade in the area. This area was called "Rupert's Land," named after Prince Rupert. It covered over one-third of modern-day Canada. The exact borders were not known at the time. Rupert's Land later became Canada's largest land purchase in the 1800s.
HBC built six trading posts between 1668 and 1717. These included Rupert House, Moose Factory, and Fort Albany on James Bay. Three others were on the western shore of Hudson Bay: New Severn, York Factory, and Fort Churchill. These posts were called "factories" because a "factor," or agent, did business there. They worked like Dutch fur-trading posts. HBC set up a "Standard of Trade" to keep prices fair. A "Made Beaver" (MB) became the main way to trade. This was a prime beaver pelt, worn for a year and ready to be processed. For example, two otter pelts might equal one Made Beaver.
During the fall and winter, First Nations men and European trappers caught animals and prepared pelts. They traveled by canoe and on foot to the forts to sell their furs. In return, they received items like knives, kettles, beads, and the famous Hudson's Bay point blanket. The arrival of the First Nations trappers was a big event. It included a formal "Trading Ceremony" between the Chief Trader and the leader of the Indigenous group.
The English company built posts mostly on the coast. The French, however, built many posts inland. They sent traders to live among the tribes, learn their languages, and form alliances. In 1686, the French sent a raiding party to capture HBC posts along James Bay. The French took over these posts. After 1688, England and France were officially at war. This conflict also happened in North America. The French captured York Factory in 1694, but HBC got it back the next year.
In 1697, the French attacked York Factory again. On the way, they won a big naval battle against three British ships. The French captured York Factory. The French kept most of the posts until 1713. This caused big money problems for HBC. They did not pay any profits to their owners for over 20 years.
HBC in the 1700s
After the wars ended in 1713, France gave up all its claims to Hudson Bay. It became a British possession again. After this, HBC built Prince of Wales Fort. This was a strong stone fort. In 1782, during the American Revolutionary War, a French group captured and destroyed York Factory and Prince of Wales Fort. This was done to support the American rebels.
HBC traded wool blankets, called Hudson's Bay point blankets, for beaver pelts. By 1700, these blankets made up over 60 percent of their trade. The number of indigo stripes on the blankets showed their size. Many people thought the stripes showed the blanket's value in beaver pelts, but this was not true.
HBC's first trading post inland was built by Samuel Hearne in 1774. It was called Cumberland House. Other inland posts were built before this, but Cumberland House was a major step. It showed HBC was moving further into the land.
In 1779, other traders started the North West Company (NWC) in Montreal. They wanted to compete with HBC. The NWC became a permanent company in 1783. By 1784, the NWC was taking a lot of HBC's profits.
HBC in the 1800s
The North West Company (NWC) was HBC's biggest competitor. Their rivalry led to a small conflict called the Pemmican War in 1816. The Battle of Seven Oaks on June 19, 1816, was the peak of this fight. In 1821, the British government made the NWC and HBC merge. This was to stop the often-violent competition. Many trading posts were closed because they were no longer needed.
After the merger, HBC's territory grew. It reached the Arctic Ocean in the north and the Pacific Ocean in the west. The company had 1,500 employees. Its trade covered a huge area of 7.7 million square kilometers.
Between 1820 and 1870, HBC printed its own paper money. These notes were in British currency. They were used mainly in the Red River Colony.
Competition and Exploration
Even with its monopoly, HBC faced competition. Independent traders in the Red River Colony sold furs to buyers in the United States. Americans also controlled the fur trade on the Northwest Coast until the 1830s.
HBC controlled almost all trading in the Pacific Northwest in the 1820s and 1830s. Their main office was at Fort Vancouver. The company tried to stop U.S. settlers from moving into the area. HBC's strong control over trade made it hard for new settlements to grow.
HBC also had posts in what is now the United States. These included Spokane House, Fort Okanogan, and Fort Nez Percés. Fort Colville replaced Spokane House in 1825. Fort Umpqua was built in 1832 in Oregon. Fort Nisqually was built in Washington state. HBC also built Fort Boise in 1834 to compete with an American fort. In 1837, HBC bought Fort Hall.
HBC trappers also explored Northern California. They went as far south as the San Francisco Bay Area. The company had a trading post there. These trapping groups faced many dangers. They were often the first to explore new areas. HBC also had a store in the Hawaiian Islands. They shipped goods there between 1828 and 1859.
By 1838, HBC reached Fort Stikine in Alaska. They made a deal with the Russian American Company. HBC would supply Russian posts with farm products. A special company, the Puget Sound Agricultural Company, was created to do this.
HBC's strong control was broken in 1843. This was when the first large group of wagons reached Oregon. In the years that followed, thousands of settlers moved into Oregon. In 1846, the United States took full control south of the 49th parallel.
HBC in British Columbia
HBC also had posts in central and northern British Columbia. These included Fort Alexandria, Fort St. John, Fort St. James, Fort George, and Fort Kamloops.
In 1824, HBC sent an expedition to the Fraser River. They found friendly tribes and good land for farming. The first Fort Langley was built in 1827. This started a long-lasting settlement in southern British Columbia. The fur trade there was not great, so it quickly became a salmon trading site.
HBC expanded its presence on the coast. They built Fort Simpson (1831) and Fort McLoughlin (1833). They also used the Beaver (1836), the first steamship in the Pacific Northwest. This helped HBC control the fur trade on the coast. By 1837, American competition on the coast was mostly over.
By 1843, HBC built Fort Victoria on Vancouver Island. This was because the Americans were pushing for a border further north. Fort Victoria had a good harbor and farming land. It became the new main office for the region. Trade in salmon, timber, and cranberries grew. Fort Rupert was built in 1849 to access coal. On the mainland, Fort Hope and Fort Yale were built in 1848 on the Fraser River. These posts helped connect the fur trade network to York Factory on Hudson Bay.
The End of HBC's Monopoly
In 1849, a trial helped end HBC's monopoly. Guillaume Sayer, a Métis trader, was accused of illegal fur trading. A crowd of armed Métis men gathered outside the courtroom. Sayer was found guilty, but the judge did not punish him. Some say this was because of the intimidating crowd. The Métis shouted, "Trade is free!" This loosened HBC's control over the courts.
Another factor was the Palliser Expedition from 1857 to 1860. Captain John Palliser explored the prairies and mountains. His report showed that the Canadian West was suitable for farming. This ended HBC's claim that the land was not good for settlement.
In 1863, a company called the International Financial Society bought control of HBC. The new owners were more interested in real estate and developing the West. In 1869, HBC agreed to give Rupert's Land back to Britain. Britain then gave it to Canada. Canada paid HBC for its losses. HBC also received some land for settlement and kept its trading posts. This deal was called the Deed of Surrender. It came into effect in 1870. This led to the creation of the North-West Territories and the province of Manitoba.
During the 1800s, HBC changed a lot. It had to adapt to growing populations and new settlements. It was clear that HBC could not control the future of the West alone.
HBC Becomes Department Stores
Today's famous department stores grew from these trading posts. In the early 1800s, people wanted more general goods. HBC expanded inland and set up posts along rivers. These posts later became cities like Winnipeg, Calgary, and Edmonton. The first sales shop opened in Fort Langley in 1857. More shops followed in other cities. The first large department store was built in Calgary in 1913. Other big stores were built in Edmonton, Vancouver, Victoria, Saskatoon, and Winnipeg.
HBC in the 1900s
The First World War stopped plans to update the stores in 1912. After the war, HBC improved its fur trade and real estate business. It also started investing in the oil business. The company co-founded Hudson's Bay Oil and Gas Company (HBOG) in 1926. Even though HBC tried different businesses, its department store business is the only part that remains today. HBC also opened new trading posts in the Canadian Arctic.
Indigenous Health Concerns
In 1927, a medical scientist named Frederick Banting traveled in the Arctic. He realized that people on an HBC ship were spreading the influenza virus. This virus spread across the north and caused a lot of harm to the Indigenous population. Banting later spoke to a reporter about how the fox fur trade was unfair to Indigenous people. He said that for over $100,000 worth of fox skins, Indigenous people received less than $5,000 worth of goods. He linked this to health problems. He said their diet became "flour, sea-biscuits, tea and tobacco." He also said that furs once used for clothing were traded for "cheap whiteman's goods."
HBC officials were upset by Banting's comments. They met with him and asked him to take back his statements. Banting said the reporter had shared his private conversation. But he did not take back his statements. He said HBC was responsible for the deaths of Indigenous people. He said they supplied unhealthy food and brought diseases to the Arctic. Banting also advised against building an Arctic hospital. He said it would be a waste of money because only a few Indigenous people could reach it.
Later 1900s Changes
In 1960, HBC bought Morgan's stores. This helped them expand into Montreal, Toronto, and other cities. In 1965, HBC changed the name of its department stores to The Bay. By 1972, all former Morgan's stores became Bay stores. HBOG, the oil and gas company, also grew in the 1960s.
In 1970, on its 300th anniversary, HBC moved its main office to Canada. This was because of new British tax laws. The main office moved from London to Winnipeg. By 1974, it moved to Toronto as the company grew in eastern Canada.
HBC bought the Shop-Rite catalogue stores in 1972. They expanded to 65 stores, but closed them in 1982. Customers chose items from catalogues, and staff got them from storerooms. HBC also bought Freimans department stores in Ottawa and changed them to The Bay.
In 1978, HBC bought the Zellers discount store chain. Also in 1978, HBC bought Simpson's department stores. These were changed to Bay stores in 1991. Kmart Canada was bought in 1998 and merged with Zellers.
In 1979, Canadian billionaire Kenneth Thomson gained control of HBC. He sold off HBC's oil and gas business, financial services, and other parts. This made the company smaller and more focused. In the 1980s, sales and oil prices dropped. HBC sold its share in HBOG in 1981. In 1997, the Thomson family sold their last shares.
HBC solved a big debt problem in 1987. They sold parts of the company that were not important. They also sold their fur-auction business. The Northern Stores Division was sold to a group of investors and employees.
HBC bought Towers Department Stores in 1990 and merged them with Zellers. They also bought Woodward's stores in 1993 and changed them to Bay or Zellers stores.
In 1991, The Bay agreed to stop selling fur. But in 1997, they started selling fur again because customers wanted it.
HBC in the 2000s
In 2006, Jerry Zucker bought HBC. He became the first American to lead the company. After he passed away, his wife, Anita Zucker, became the governor.
In 2008, NRDC Equity Partners bought HBC. This company also owned Lord & Taylor. In 2012, HBC announced it would offer shares to the public. This would allow Canadians to own part of the company again. The company also said it would rename The Bay stores "Hudson's Bay." The new Hudson's Bay brand launched in 2013. It had a new logo based on the classic Hudson's Bay Company coat of arms.
In 2016, HBC bought an online shopping site called Gilt Groupe. HBC also expanded into the Netherlands in 2016. They took over 20 former Vroom & Dreesmann store locations. By 2017, they also opened Saks Off Fifth stores in Germany.
In 2018, HBC announced that hackers had accessed over five million credit and debit cards. These cards were used for purchases at Saks Fifth Avenue, Saks Off 5th, and Lord & Taylor stores.
In 2019, a group of owners, including chairman Richard Baker, wanted to make the company private. By March 2020, they succeeded. HBC was removed from the Toronto Stock Exchange. Richard Baker became the CEO.
HBC sold many of its brands by 2019. These included Galeria Kaufhof, Gilt Groupe, and Lord & Taylor. The remaining stores in the Netherlands were also sold. By late 2019, HBC was focusing on its main brands: Saks Fifth Avenue and The Bay.
In 2023, Hudson's Bay officially stopped selling animal fur products.
Changes to Other Store Chains
From 2004 to 2008, HBC owned a small chain of discount stores called Designer Depot. These stores did not do well, and their nine locations were sold. Another HBC chain, Fields, was sold in 2012. In 2019, HBC announced that all 37 Home Outfitters stores would close.
In 2017, HBC considered buying Macy's and Neiman Marcus, but these deals did not happen. In 2022, HBC was preparing bids to buy Kohl's.
Zellers Stores
In 2011, HBC announced it would sell most of its Zellers store leases to Target Corporation. Target wanted to use these locations to enter the Canadian market. HBC used the money to pay off debts and invest in Hudson's Bay and Lord & Taylor. Target Canada later closed in 2015. By 2019, two Zellers locations were still operating as discount stores.
In August 2022, HBC announced that the Zellers brand would return. It would come back through online shopping and new physical stores in 2023.
Lord & Taylor Stores
In 2012, HBC also started running the Lord & Taylor chain. In 2018, HBC sold the building of its main Lord & Taylor store in New York City. The deal also included using parts of other HBC-owned stores as shared office spaces.
In 2019, HBC announced it would sell its Lord & Taylor business to Le Tote Inc. HBC would receive cash and a share in Le Tote. HBC also had to pay the stores' rent for at least three years.
Saks, Inc. Stores
In 2013, Hudson's Bay Company announced it would buy Saks, Inc. This company runs the U.S. Saks Fifth Avenue brand. The deal was completed in November 2013. HBC said that Saks stores would soon open in Canada.
Galeria Kaufhof Stores
HBC bought the German department store chain Galeria Kaufhof in 2015. In 2017, HBC received an offer to buy Kaufhof. In 2018, Galeria Kaufhof merged with another company.
In 2019, HBC announced it would sell its remaining shares of Galeria Kaufhof. HBC also announced that all 15 of its stores in the Netherlands would be sold by the end of 2019.
How HBC Works Today
HBC has different types of businesses. They offer credit cards, mortgages, and personal insurance. These are partnerships with other companies. HBC also has an HBC Rewards program. Customers can use points to get discounts in stores.
HBC is also involved in community and charity work. The HBC Rewards Community Program raises money for good causes. The HBC Foundation helps with social issues. HBC used to sponsor the annual HBC Run for Canada. This event raised money for Canadian athletes.
Olympic Team Outfitter
HBC has been the official clothing provider for the Canadian Olympic team many times. They provided uniforms for the Games in 1936, 1960, 1964, 1968, and from 2006 to 2016. Their sponsorship was renewed until 2020. Since the late 2000s, HBC has used its role as the Olympic outfitter to become more known around the world.
In 2005, HBC became the new clothing outfitter for the Canadian Olympic team. They provided clothes for the 2006, 2008, 2010, and 2012 Games. The Canadian Olympic collection is sold at Hudson's Bay stores.
HBC's uniforms for the 2006 and 2008 Olympics received mixed reviews. Some thought the colorful stripes looked more like HBC ads than Canadian Olympic colors. Also, most of their Olympic clothes were made in China. This was criticized because the previous supplier, Roots, made their clothes in Canada.
HBC's clothing for the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver was very popular. Canada was the host country, and their athletes won many medals. The "Red Mittens" were especially popular. They cost $10, and one-third of the money went to the Canadian Olympic Committee. Over 2.6 million pairs were sold that year. HBC has continued to make these red mittens for later Olympic Games.
In 2021, it was announced that Lululemon would replace HBC as Canada's Olympic outfitter starting with the 2022 Winter Olympics.
HBC Archives: Preserving History
The Hudson's Bay Company has kept very detailed records. These records help us learn about its long history. Before 1974, HBC's records were kept in London. In 1931, HBC opened its archives to researchers. In 1974, the Hudson's Bay Company Archives (HBCA) were moved from London to Winnipeg, Canada. The public could access them the next year.
In 1994, the company officially gave its archives to the Archives of Manitoba. The records were valued at almost $60 million. A special foundation was created to support the archives. More than 2 kilometers of documents and many microfilm reels are stored in a special climate-controlled room.
In 2007, the Hudson's Bay Company Archives became part of the United Nations "Memory of the World Programme." This program recognizes important historical documents. The records cover HBC's history from 1670. They include business deals, medical records, personal journals, and company reports.
How HBC Was Managed
In the 1700s and 1800s, Hudson's Bay Company had a very strict employee system. There were two main levels: officers and servants. Officers included factors, masters, chief traders, clerks, and surgeons. Servants included tradesmen, boatmen, and laborers. The officers ran the fur trading posts. They supervised workers, valued furs, and kept records.
When HBC merged with the North West Company in 1821, the system became even stricter. It was very hard for servants to become officers. Officers in charge of trading posts had a lot of responsibility. They had to follow the rules set by the company's leaders in London. This included setting prices for furs and trade goods. The "Made-Beaver" was the standard for measuring fur quality.
The company's leaders were far away in London, England. So, they needed reliable officers at the trading posts. The fur trade market changed a lot. HBC allowed officers to adjust prices. Any extra money made by officers was carefully recorded. This strict but flexible system helped Hudson's Bay Company be very successful.
- Employee Ranks Before 1821
| # | Job Title |
|---|---|
| OFFICERS | |
| 1 | Chief Factor |
| 2 | Second [Factor] |
| 3 | Master [of a trading station] |
| 4 | Sloopmaster Surgeon |
| 5 | Writer |
| 6 | Apprentice |
| SERVANTS | |
| 1 | Tradesman Steersman |
| 2 | Canoeman Bowsman |
| 3 | Middleman |
| 4 | Labourer |
- Employee Ranks 1821–1871
| # | Job Title | Pay per year |
|---|---|---|
| COMMISSIONED OFFICERS | ||
| 1 | Governor of Rupert's Land | Performance Pay |
| 2 | Chief Factor | Two shares |
| 3 | Chief Trader | One share |
| GENTLEMEN | ||
| 4 | Clerk | £75–100 |
| 5 | Apprenticed Clerk | £25–27 |
| NON-GENTLEMEN | ||
| 6 | Postmaster | £40–75 |
| 7 | Guide Interpreter Sloopmaster |
£30–45 |
| 8 | Apprentice postmaster | |
| SERVANTS | ||
| 9 | Tradesman Steersman Boatman Bowsman Middleman Labourer |
£16–40 |
Career Paths
In the 1800s, officers, called Commissioned Gentlemen, usually started as fur traders. They often invested their own money to begin trading. They wanted to become a Chief Trader. A Chief Trader was in charge of a trading post. They received one share of the company's profits. Chief Factors were leaders of larger areas. They received two shares of the company's profits or losses.
Governors of HBC
- 1670–82 Prince Rupert of the Rhine
- 1683–85 James Stuart, Duke of York – became King of England.
- 1685–92 John Churchill, Earl of Marlborough
- 1692–96 Sir Stephen Evance
- 1696–1700 Sir William Trumbull
- 1700–12 Sir Stephen Evance
- 1712–43 Sir Bibye Lake
- 1744–46 Benjamin Pitt
- 1746–50 Thomas Knapp
- 1750–60 Sir Atwell Lake
- 1760–70 Sir William Baker
- 1770–82 Sir Bibye Lake, Jr.
- 1782–99 Samuel Wegg
- 1799–1807 Sir James Winter Lake
- 1807–12 William Mainwaring
- 1812–22 Joseph Berens
- 1822–52 Sir John Henry Pelly
- 1852–56 Andrew Wedderburn Colvile
- 1856–58 John Shepherd
- 1858–63 Henry Hulse Berens
- 1863–68 Sir Edmund Walker Head
- 1868–69 John Wodehouse, 1st Earl of Kimberley
- 1869–74 Sir Stafford Henry Northcote
- 1874–80 George Joachim Goschen
- 1880–89 Eden Colvile
- 1889–1914 Donald Alexander Smith
- 1914–15 Sir Thomas Skinner
- 1916–25 Sir Robert Molesworth Kindersley
- 1925–31 Charles Vincent Sale
- 1931–52 Sir Patrick Ashley Cooper
- 1952–65 William "Tony" Keswick
- 1965–70 Derick Heathcoat-Amory
- 1970–82 George T. Richardson
- 1982–94 Donald S. McGiverin
- 1994–97 David E. Mitchell
- 1997–2006 L. Yves Fortier
- 2006–08 Jerry Zucker
- 2008 Anita Zucker – first female governor.
- 2008–present Richard Baker
Interesting Facts About HBC
Rent Payment to the King
The original charter for Hudson's Bay Company had a special rule. The company had to give two elk skins and two black beaver pelts to the English king. This payment was due whenever the king or queen visited Rupert's Land.
The ceremony happened for the first time with the Prince of Wales in 1927. Then, with King George VI in 1939. The last times were with Queen Elizabeth II in 1959 and 1970. In 1970, the pelts were given as two live beavers. The Queen donated them to the Winnipeg Zoo. When HBC moved its main office to Canada, this rule was removed. All four "rent ceremonies" took place in or near Winnipeg.
Famous HBC Explorers and Builders
- James Knight (around 1640–1721) was an HBC leader and explorer. He died trying to find the Northwest Passage.
- Henry Kelsey (around 1667–1724) was an English fur trader and explorer. He helped establish HBC in Canada. In 1690, he was the first white person to see buffalo.
- Thanadelthur (around 1697–1717) was a Chipewyan woman. She was a guide and interpreter for HBC.
- Samuel Hearne (1745–1792) was an English explorer and fur trader. In 1774, he built Cumberland House. This was HBC's first trading post inland in what is now Saskatchewan.
- David Thompson (1770–1857) was a British-Canadian fur trader. He worked for both HBC and the North West Trading Company. He is famous for his explorations and map-making. He mapped almost half of North America.
- Thomas Douglas, Lord Selkirk (1771–1820) was a Scottish leader. He was a major owner of HBC. He bought land at Red River to start a colony for Scottish immigrants.
- Isobel Gunn (around 1780–1861) was a Scottish worker for HBC. She pretended to be a man. She was the first European woman to travel to Rupert's Land.
- George Simpson (1787–1860) was the Canadian governor of HBC. He led the company during its most powerful time, starting in 1821.
- Donald Smith, 1st Baron Strathcona and Mount Royal (1820–1914) was an important HBC leader. He helped calm things down during the Red River Rebellion in 1870. This allowed Rupert's Land to be transferred to Canada. He later became Governor of HBC.
- Dr. John Rae (1813–1893) was a Scottish doctor and explorer. He explored Northern Canada and parts of the Northwest Passage. He also reported what happened to the Franklin Expedition.
HBC Ships
- Beaver (1835–1874)
- Otter (1852–1895)
- Anson Northup (1859–1860)
- Caledonia (1891–1898)
- Caledonia (2) (1898–1909)
- Mount Royal (1902–1907)
- Princess Louise (1878–1883)
- Strathcona (1900)
- Port Simpson (1907–1912)
- Hazelton (1907–1912)
- Distributor (1920–1948)
HBC's Rivals: Who Survived?
HBC is the only European trading company from its time that still exists today. It outlasted all its competitors.
| Years | Company | What Happened |
|---|---|---|
| 1551–1917 | Muscovy Company | Taken over by Soviet Russia; now a charity. |
| 1581–1825 | Levant Company | Closed down. |
| 1600–1874 | Honourable East India Company | Closed down. |
| 1602–1800 | Dutch East India Company | Went bankrupt; assets taken by Dutch government. |
| 1621–1791 | Dutch West India Company | Bought by the Dutch government. |
| 1672–1752 | Royal African Company | Replaced by another company that later closed. |
| 1711–1850s | South Sea Company | Closed due to bankruptcy. |
| 1779–1821 | North West Company | Merged with the HBC. |
| 1799–1867 | Russian-American Company | Closed when Russian America was sold to the U.S. |
| 1808–1842 | American Fur Company | Closed down. |
Images for kids
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Flag of the Hudson's Bay Company from 1801 to 1965
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The Company's flag from 1707 to 1801
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The Company's flag from 1682 to 1707