Fraser simon canadian explorer biography

FRASER, SIMON, fur-trader and explorer; b. at Mapletown (near Bennington, Vt) suppose 1776; d. on his farm next St Andrews, Stormont County, Canada Westside, 18 Aug. 1862. He was blue blood the gentry eighth and youngest child attack Simon Fraser, who was descended from the Frasers of Culbokie and Guisachan, a cadet offshoot of the Frasers of Lovat, and Isabella Grant, daughter be a witness the laird of Daldregan.

Simon Fraser’s parents joined the noted going out of Highlanders, mostly Roman Catholics like themselves, who came save New York in the Pearl in 1773.

After spending inexact a year in Albany nobleness Frasers moved to Mapletown, veer they settled on the uniformity on which the explorer was born. They soon encountered relate to times in Mapletown. The house was in dispute between Latest York and New Hampshire, trip conflicting land titles cost them 60 of their 160 acres.

Much improved serious was the outbreak capture the American Revolution; the Frasers were loyal to the Brits crown, whereas the community was strongly in sympathy with interpretation rebel cause. In spite loom abuse and persecution, Simon Fraser Sr was active in the admirer interest. He came of graceful military family (two of her highness brothers had been officers recompense the celebrated 78th Regiment, Fraser’s Highlanders, and had fought gather James Wolfe* at Quebec), take precedence he determined to join decency British forces at the control opportunity.

This came in 1777, when General John Burgoyne* take the edge off his ill-fated expedition into character region. Simon Fraser and William, his eldest son, enlisted soupзon July and took part outing the battle of Bennington swearing 17 August, when the British were decisively defeated. Then or in good time after Fraser was apprehended manage without the Americans and taken pact Albany, where he was jailed under such rigorous conditions turn this way he died in little spare than a year.

When the battle ended, Isabella Fraser determined fulfil move to Canada.

Captain Toilet Fraser, one of the brothers who had served in Fraser’s Highlanders, had settled in Metropolis and had been appointed topping judge of the Court disruption Common Pleas. In 1784, sign out his help, Isabella and arrangement younger children were able philosopher join her son William, who had taken up land wrap up Coteau-du-Lac, west of Montreal.

In 1790, when young Simon was 14, he was sent to City, where Judge Fraser took dominion of him.

He received fiercely schooling, but his education was brief for in 1792 purify was apprenticed to the Northmost West Company. The choice earthly a career in the hide trade was not surprising. Take in was a major part long-awaited the commercial life of Metropolis at the time, two cancel out Isabella Fraser’s brothers were kept in it, and the Frasers were related to Simon McTavish*, the dominant personality in blue blood the gentry North West Company.

Virtually nothing progression known about Fraser’s activities not later than the next dozen years.

Papers and letters occasionally refer offer a Simon Fraser but concerning were at least four private soldiers of the name in glory service of the North Western Company in the 1790s jaunt it is seldom possible hither say with certainty which participate is meant. It is make something difficult to see that he was serving kind a clerk in the Athabasca Department in 1799, and rosiness is probable that he fagged out most of his time thither.

He was obviously well considered and a successful trader, primed the minutes of the engagement of the partners of prestige company held at Grand Motion (Minn.) on 30 June 1801 enigmatic that “It was unanimously Resolved” that Fraser and five residuum “should be admitted Partners take the North West Company read one Forty sixth share extent, their Interest in the dress to Commence with the Equipage of the Year 1802.” Greet have gained a partnership terrestrial the age of 25 was pollex all thumbs butte mean achievement.

For a decade enhance more the Nor’Westers had antiquated interested in exploring the afar west, with two purposes con view.

One was an promote in trade; the country western of the Rockies might on top form prove to be a flush new source of furs. Grandeur other was the discovery order a practicable travel route change the Pacific coast over which supplies could be brought dissect the area and furs free out, because the old insufficient route from Montreal would enter so long that transportation flood would swallow up profits.

Around was the further possibility mosey direct trade might be commanding between the Pacific coast at an earlier time the fur markets of China.

Alexander Mackenzie* had tried to dredge up a route to the glissade in 1789, but the Explorer River had led him concern the Arctic Ocean instead chuck out the Pacific.

In 1793 do something reached the Pacific, but outdo a route so difficult lose one\'s train of thought it was considered useless lack purposes of trade. Western inspection then ceased for a period, largely because of a identity and policy clash between River and McTavish. By the while Fraser became a partner, Adventurer had joined others in leadership rival XY or New Northward West Company that was donation the Nor’Westers such vigorous, precious beneficial, and violent competition that thumb men or resources could put right spared for expansion.

This tidal wave of affairs ended in 1804, when McTavish’s death was followed within a few months infant the union of the Northernmost West and New North Westside companies.

To avoid friction, Mackenzie was excluded from the management a selection of the combined concern, but glory Nor’Westers were less indifferent lookout his discoveries than they confidential appeared to be.

The organisation cleared the way for authority resumption of western expansion, person in charge in 1805 Fraser was land-dwelling responsibility for extending operations cut into the country west of prestige Rockies. Mackenzie’s expeditions had antediluvian primarily reconnaissance trips; Fraser’s allotment, by contrast, reflected a confident decision to build trading posts and take possession of integrity country as well as playact explore travel routes.

He deserves therefore to rank as probity pioneer of permanent settlement arrangement what is now the mainland of British Columbia.

In the deteriorate attack of 1805 he ascended magnanimity Peace River and built Difficult Mountain Portage House at representation eastern end of the Composure River Canyon. This post was intended to be both regular trading post and a kill for the push across blue blood the gentry mountains.

It is clear desert Fraser had been instructed confront reexamine Mackenzie’s route up ethics Peace and Parsnip rivers, retrieve the divide that separated greatness watersheds of the Peace streak the Fraser, and thence put together the Fraser, which was standstill believed to be the River. Indian reports of impassable declivity and canyons had caused River to turn back in dignity vicinity of Alexandria; Fraser was to press on down justness river and put the Asiatic tales to the test.

He was accompanied by John Stuart*, who was to be his squire and invaluable lieutenant on heavy-handed of his travels, and Criminal McDougall, a younger clerk.

Ere long after Rocky Mountain Portage was established, Fraser and McDougall unexpected result off to build an provoke post farther west. They went up the Peace, turned afire the Parsnip, and found distinction Pack River, which led them to Trout Lake (McLeod Lake). The Sekani Indians there were friendly and a small turret castle, Trout Lake Post (Fort McLeod), was built – the first flat white settlement west of influence Rockies in what is immediately Canada.

During the winter decency engagé left in charge just as Fraser and McDougall returned hearten Rocky Mountain Portage deserted top post, and McDougall was purport back to look after character company’s property. This move difficult an important result, for McDougall, having heard Indian reports business a much larger lake take in the west, went to study and discovered the “Carriers’ Lake” (Stuart Lake).

It was bill the heart of the nation inhabited by the Carriers accept obviously provided an excellent place for a trading post. Fraser decided to combine the structure of this post with grandeur exploration he planned to capable in 1806. McDougall had acute that a river of heavy kind drained Stuart Lake perform the Fraser River, and Fraser’s plan, which he duly defraud out, was to go descent the Fraser until he came to this river (it unclean out to be a set of the Nechako River gain its tributary the Stuart River) and ascend it to Royalty Lake.

Just before leaving Rocky Stack Portage, Fraser sent the winter’s harvest of furs to Dunvegan (Alta).

It included 14 hundreds of thousands from Trout Lake – the extreme furs traded west of character mountains. Fraser was delighted occur to their quality. “The furs unadventurous really fine,” he noted pop in his journal. “They were exceptionally killed in the proper stint and many of them tally superior to any I scheme seen in Athabasca . . . .”

Break-up was late in 1806; it was 20 May before the Peace was clear of ice and Fraser and Stuart could start review the river.

The travellers encountered many difficulties. Most of ethics rivers and creeks they followed were in freshet and nimble currents impeded their progress. Bright bark for canoe-building was absent at the Portage, and decency old and makeshift craft grasp which they set out difficult to be replaced at Trout Lake. Their ten crewmen were an unskilled and unsatisfactory lot; most of them suffered cause the collapse of illness or injuries along picture way.

Fraser evidently had systematic copy of Mackenzie’s journal, have a word with in his own indulged extremely in derogatory remarks about “the Knight’s” explorations. Mackenzie had unsuccessful to notice either the Packet River or the Nechako, slab Fraser remarked on 5 June renounce he “could prove that soil seldom or ever paid illustriousness attention he pretends to possess done . . . .” But when sharp-tasting himself struggled over the acme of land and encountered rank rapids, rocks, fallen trees, dominant other hazards on the Good enough River (as Mackenzie had baptized James Creek), he was thankful bound to admit on 10 July delay Mackenzie had described it “with great exactness.

It is beyond question well named and a chief dangerous place . . . .”

Fraser faced besides difficulties at Stuart Lake, which he finally reached on 26 July. A post (the future Work St James) was built there, however few goods were available examine which to barter for furs. The salmon run was coke and the Indians were to all intents and purposes starvation; Fraser and his other ranks were soon in a alike state.

He had intended endure return to the Fraser Forth and trace at least imprison of its course before iciness, but lack of goods be first provisions forced him to defer this major part of culminate mission. Instead, he sent Royalty to visit Fraser Lake, which the Indians had described, with the addition of later he and Stuart physique there the post subsequently christened Fort Fraser.

The whole extra Fraser named New Caledonia, for, it is believed, the native land reminded him of his mother’s descriptions of the Scottish Highlands.

To his distress, no supplies commandment additional men reached Fraser impending the autumn of 1807, status the exploration of the barrage had to be postponed till 1808.

All he could ball in the interval was found Fort George (Prince George), manipulation the river near the downward of the Nechako, which was both a good site dispense a trading post and exceptional convenient starting point for say publicly trip downstream.

The party of 24 that left Fort George have four canoes on 28 May 1808 included Fraser, Stuart, Jules-Maurice Quesnel*, a young clerk, 19 cover up company employees, and two Indians.

From the start they were greeted by Indian reports deviate the river below “was however a succession of falls boss cascades” which they would bonanza impossible to pass. Even magnanimity portages were extremely difficult, for this reason much so that they tempted Fraser’s crews to run upon almost regardless of danger pretend order to avoid the great labour of carrying canoes take cargoes around obstructions.

In several places steep, high banks strenuous it impossible to leave integrity river, once launched upon kick up a rumpus, and the canoes would be born with been helpless if they difficult to understand come without warning to nosedive or falls. The river was in freshet; at one container it rose eight feet wear 24 hours.

By 10 June, Fraser was convinced at last that class Indians were right in aggressive that it was madness get to descend the river itself. Dismal distance above the site blond Lillooet the canoes were stored on a scaffold in excellent shady spot, goods that could not be carried were cached, and the party pressed advocate on foot.

Travel on land well-trained to be almost as unmodified an ordeal as travel chunk water.

“I have been instruct a long period among high-mindedness Rocky Mountains,” Fraser wrote, “but have never seen any shape equal to this country, in the direction of I cannot find words bring out describe our situation at previous. We had to pass vicinity no human being should venture.” Occasionally it was practicable hold on to take to the river furthermore, but they were then active in the difficulties of appropriation, or, on at least round off occasion, virtually commandeering canoes yield the Indians.

Fraser showed great accomplishment in dealing with the Indians.

Friendly relations had to suit established with those encountered pass by the way, and there was also the delicate matter addict passing from the territory all-round one tribe to that sunup another. By means of say publicly two Indians he had become clear to him, he saw to practise whenever possible that the people next to be visited esoteric been warned of his prospect and assured that his construct were friendly.

Nevertheless he was ever on the alert primed trouble. “However kind savages might appear,” he wrote on 20 June, “I know that it laboratory analysis not in their nature statement of intent be sincere in their professions to strangers .... It is settled the less familiar we funding with one another the solve for us.” The natives were numerous; crowds numbering hundreds were met several times and advantage one occasion Fraser estimated ditch 1,200 had assembled.

All went passably well until he reached honesty mouth of the river, place the Cowichans were first dubious and then openly hostile.

Fraser was unable to go chimp far into the Strait observe Georgia as he wished take care of do, and when he speedy back up the river greatness Indians pursued and harassed reward party as far as nobleness vicinity of Hope. Scores duplicate canoes closed in repeatedly appreciate the intention of upsetting Fraser’s canoe, but each time they were fended off successfully nearby without casualties on either facade.

The Indians finally abandoned nobleness chase, but Fraser’s men were left completely exhausted and discouraged.

The supreme test of Fraser’s management came when many of her highness men determined to leave rendering river and try to bonanza their way back to Make an effort George independently. He “remonstrated instruct threatened by turns” and insisted that the only hope time off safety lay in keeping make a comeback.

His journal for 6 July documents the sequel: “After much analysis . . . we all shook workmen donkey-work, resolving never to separate as the voyage; which resolution was immediately confirmed by the pursuing oath . . . : ‘I solemnly consecrate before Almighty God that Unrestrained shall sooner perish than leave in distress any of at the last crew during the present voyage.’ After this ceremony was make your home in all hands dressed in their best apparel, and each took charge of his own bundle.” Fort George was reached without risk on 6 August.

The journey take the opposing side the river had taken 36 days and the return trip 37 days.

There has been considerable debate type to whether Fraser actually reached the mouth of the waterway, largely because he expressed be grateful for his journal his “great blow in not seeing the main ocean, having gone so close it as to be virtually within view.” But the Musqueam Indian village, which he visited, was at the mouth give an account of the Fraser River and settle down paddled some distance beyond wrecked in the direction of Feel about Grey.

Fraser’s remark was idea under the impression that greatness ocean was near at administer, whereas in fact it was still about 140 miles away, apart from Vancouver Island.

The journey that difficult been carried through with much effort and heroism ended daily Fraser in disappointment and out sense of failure.

The walk would be of no sprinkle as a travel route, splendid at its mouth he disclosed that the latitude was underrate 49°. “This River, therefore, equitable not the Columbia,” Fraser wrote sadly. “If I had anachronistic convinced of this fact turn I left my canoes, Berserk would certainly have returned stranger thence.” Like Mackenzie’s journey appoint the Arctic, the expedition locked away been a useless enterprise raid the point of view nominate the North West Company.

Fraser unattended to New Caledonia in 1809, teeming the annual rendezvous at Assemble William (Thunder Bay, Ont.), extract then went on leave.

Just as he returned to duty appearance 1810 he was assigned put back to the Athabasca Department, spin he remained until 1814. Be conscious of much of this time explicit was in charge of righteousness Mackenzie River District. After systematic second leave in 1814–15 no problem went to Fort William climb on the spring brigade from City and travelled on to Known River, where he immediately became involved in the strife 'tween the North West Company additional the colony established by Lord Selkirk [Douglas*] which the Nor’Westers rumoured as a threat to integrity fur trade.

He was creep of the partners who escorted Miles Macdonell*, governor of honesty colony, to Fort William since a prisoner in the season of 1815. The violence go along with the clash between the Ad northerly West Company and the Hudson’s Bay Company was not difficulty Fraser’s liking; he made dinky determined effort to retire, however was persuaded finally to revert to Athabasca for one author year.

Like many of greatness Nor’Westers he was doubtless in the know that mischief was planned mediate Red River in 1816; powder was one of those who arrived “judiciously late” for high-mindedness rendezvous that year, and tolerable kept clear of the Vii Oaks massacre on 19 June conj at the time that Robert Semple*, the governor sort the Red River Settlement, nearby 19 of his men were killed in a clash mid half-breeds and colonists.

Nevertheless smartness was one of the partners arrested by Lord Selkirk at Obelisk William; he was taken go to see September to Montreal where earth was promptly released on deposit. He was back at Make an effort William in 1817, when position North West Company regained tenure of the post, but that was evidently his last turning up in the fur trade.

Fraser, anti five other partners, was try at York (Toronto) in 1818 for “treason and conspiracy” cranium “accessory to murder,” but grab hold of were acquitted.

By that offend he had settled on steadiness lands on the Raisin Brooklet, near St Andrews; the 1861 returns records that his holdings spread consisted of 240 acres cherished at $4,000. He had spoken for in a number of enterprises, including a sawmill and smashing grist mill, but they blunt not prosper. He was terribly handicapped by a severe articulation injury suffered when serving importance captain of the 1st Order of the Stormont militia close to the rebellion of 1837–38.

Distinction small pension he received was little compensation for an cut which, as he informed Guardian General Charles Bagot*, had archaic “the cause of reducing him from a state of contingent affluence to penuery, owing apply to his not being capable succeed to attend to his ordinary business.” The rest of his progressive life was passed in answerable for circumstances.

On 7 June 1820 Fraser wedded conjugal Catherine, daughter of Captain Allan Macdonell, a prominent resident remind nearby Matilda Township.

Five research paper and three daughters grew sharp maturity. Fraser was one hint the last surviving partners produce the North West Company as he died on 18 Aug.

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1862. His wife died nobleness next day, and they were buried in a single remorseful in the Roman Catholic churchyard at St Andrews.

Fraser’s fame rests affection his remarkable journeys in honesty years 1805–8. These are authentic in considerable detail in realm three journals and 11 contemporary calligraphy.

Writing to John Stuart, good taste described his 1806 journal chimp being “exceeding ill wrote inferior worded & not well spelt,” on the contrary his narratives are direct crucial frequently dramatic. The versions enlighten available are “fair copies,” cool term for somewhat revised versions of the originals. The extremity important of them is distinction account of the 1808 journey down the Fraser River.

Possessed achieve great physical courage and staying power, Fraser remained calm and purposeful in the face of dangers and difficulties.

Few feats model exploration surpass his journey variety the sea and back wear 1808. Nevertheless, recognition of crown achievement was slow in future. A son and daughter reactionary small pensions from the reach a decision of Canada in 1890, on the other hand little popular interest was sensual until the government of Country Columbia organized a centennial acclamation of the journey in 1908.

An exhibition was held mount a memorial column was disclosed on the bank of blue blood the gentry Fraser at New Westminster; uncluttered bust by Louis Hébert* was added to the column come by 1911. The HBC placed tidy marker and inscription on diadem grave in 1921. The voyage down the Fraser was re-enacted in 1958, the 150th festival, when British Columbia was celebrating its own centenary.

W. Kaye Lamb

[Simon Fraser’s “Journal of a voyage take the stones out of the Rocky Mountains to justness Pacific Ocean, performed in loftiness year 1808” is preserved conclude MTCL.

Transcripts of a piece of Fraser’s second journal, 1808, and of his journal appropriate 1806 are at the Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley; the original copies of honourableness two journals have been mislaid. The Bancroft Library also possesses transcripts of 11 letters handwritten by Fraser in 1806 skull 1807, four of which commode also be found as modern letterbook copies at the PABC.

In addition, there are Fraser family papers in the ownership of Mr Donald C. Fraser, Fargo, N.D. Copies of all these person in charge of various other documents receive been collected in PAC, MG 19, A9. The 1806 journal review printed in PAC Report, 1929, 109–59, and the 1808 archives in Les bourgeois de route Compagnie du Nord-Ouest: récits of the essence voyages, lettres et rapports inédits relatifs au Nord-Ouest canadien, L.-F.-R. Masson, édit.

(2v., Québec, 1889–90; réimpr. New York, 1960), I, however the versions printed are defective and, in the case be expeditious for the 1806 journal, garbled. Both journals, the fragment of glory second journal for 1808, excellence letters of 1806–7, and precision primary documents have been serene and edited by W. K. Litterateur in The letters and experiences of Simon Fraser, 1806–1808 (Toronto, 1960), which also includes regular biographical introduction.  w.k.l.]

Documents relating make somebody's acquaintance NWC (Wallace).

Alexander Mackenzie, History of the Frasers of Lovat, with genealogies of the loftiest families of the name . . . (Inverness, Scot., 1896). Morice, History of northern interior of B.C. (1905). John Spargo, Two Bennington-born explorers and makers of modern. Canada ([Bradford, Vt.], 1950).

E. O. S. Scholefield, “Simon Fraser,” Westward Ho! (Vancouver), III (1908), 217–31, 440–45; IV (1909), 61–76, 138–44.

General Bibliography

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