Hudsons Bay Company

1
Hudsons Bay Company

• Matthew

2
History of The Bay

• In 1670 the Hudson Bay Company controlled fully
  one third of present day Canada.
• The Hudson Bay Company is Canadas oldest
  corporation of its largest retailers.
• At first the French wanted the Company out.
• During its first decades, French and English
  warships battled for possession of of the
  companys trading posts.

3
History of the Bay (part 2)

• In 1821 the Northwest Company merged into the
  Hudson Bay Company.
• By the surrender of 1869, the company retained
  its title.
• The bay also received 7 million acres and cash.
• The traders knew it would bring fortunes
• The bay contributed to Canadas settlement in a
  really big way.

4
Founding of the Bay and Company

• Henry Hudson found the bay during a expedition in
  1609 commissioned by the Dutch.
• He returned again in 1610 to what was known as
  the Hudson Bay.

• Pierre Radisson and the Sieur des Grosieilliers
  founded the company in 1668-1669.
• The king granted a preliminary charter in 1670.

5
Parliament Investigation

• In 1857 the company was subjected to a
  parliamentary investigation.
• The companies trade privileges were renewed.
• In 1869 the company land was by governmental
  order transferred to Canada in return for 300,000
  pounds.
• The nature of the fur trade was entirely
  different.

6
Monopoly

• Other English traders did not respect Monopoly.
• The Hudson Bay Company did highly profitable
  business.
• The Hudson Bay Company was harshly criticized in
  the middle of the 18 century because of its
  failure to find the Northwest Passage.
• The whole nature of the Company was altered when
  the Earl of Selkirk gained control after 1808.

7
Life in the Fur Trade

• Life in the Fur trade was very hard work.
• Traders and voyageurs met in Montreal for the
  Spring Brigades.
• Traders would paddle 12 hours a day taking a
  break every hour.
• The insect repellant was fish oil and animal fat.
• In the wilderness they ate berries.

8
Form of Transportation

• Most traders traveled in York boats.
• The first York boat ever built was built in 1740.
• The boat was named after the toughest route
  between the York factory and Norway house.

9
Photo Gallery
10
Bibliography

• Fur Trade Wars J.M. Bumsted
• World Book Millennium 2000 9 pg..407
• The Canadian Encyclopedia 030c pg..1019

• http//www.canadianenterprises.org/hudsonsbaycompa
  ny/index.htm
• http//www.pbs.org/empireofthebay/maps/map_splash.
  html