John George McTavish
| John George McTavish | |
|---|---|
| Mactavish, John George | |
| Born | c. 1778 Dunardary, Argyll, Scotland |
| Died | 1847-07-20 Lac-des-Deux-Montagnes (Oka), Lower Canada |
| Occupation | Fur trader; Chief Factor, Hudson's Bay Company |
| Father | |
| Partner | |
John George McTavish (c. 1778 – 20 July 1847) was a Scottish-born fur trader who served as a partner in the North West Company and later as a chief factor of the Hudson's Bay Company. He was active across the fur trade territories of North America for nearly five decades, from the James Bay lowlands and the Columbia River to York Factory.
Early life
McTavish was born around 1778 at Dunardary, in Argyll, Scotland, the son of Lachlan Mactavish, chief of Clan Tavish.[1] He entered the fur trade through the influence of his distant relative Simon McTavish, who recruited him into the North West Company in 1798. McTavish began his career clerking in Montreal before attending the 1802 summer rendezvous at Grand Portage.[1]
Career in the North West Company
In 1803 McTavish joined a North West Company expedition aimed at challenging the Hudson's Bay Company's monopoly by establishing posts on James Bay. He was given charge of Fort St Andrews on Charlton Island in early September 1803, and also managed the Hayes Island post.[1] During this period he took Charlotte, a daughter of HBC officer John Thomas and his Indigenous wife, as his country wife. By the autumn of 1806 the NWC had abandoned the James Bay enterprise, and Charlotte was left behind when the traders withdrew.[1]
McTavish subsequently wintered at Fort Dunvegan on the Peace River in 1808–09, and attended Beaver Club meetings in Montreal in 1810–11. In 1811 he joined John McDonald's brigade crossing the Rocky Mountains to supply David Thompson on the upper Columbia River, wintering at Spokane House.[1]
Fort Astoria and the Columbia Department
In April 1813 McTavish and his brigade arrived at the Pacific Fur Company's Fort Astoria, where they awaited an NWC supply ship. Upon learning that Britain and the United States were at war, he negotiated the purchase of the Pacific Fur Company's assets by the North West Company; the transfer was completed on 16 October 1813. Although the terms were criticized as unfavourable, William McGillivray supported the decision. McTavish was made a partner that year.[1]
During this period he entered a country marriage with Nancy McKenzie, a woman of mixed Indigenous and European ancestry. Nancy had been placed under the guardianship of trader John Stuart by her father, former Nor'Wester Roderick Mackenzie.[1] The 1813–14 season at the renamed Fort George (formerly Astoria) involved management conflicts and disputes with local Indigenous peoples. In the spring of 1814 McTavish led an armed expedition up the Columbia River in response to attacks on NWC canoes at the Cascades.[1]
Athabasca conflict and capture
After a furlough in 1815, McTavish returned to the Columbia department before moving east of the Rockies in 1816–17. He was sent to winter in Athabasca country in 1818. Upon emerging in 1819 he was captured at Grand Rapids by HBC governor William Williams, transported to York Factory, and sent to England for trial. The proceedings ultimately came to nothing. He returned to North America in March 1820 and, in retaliation, arrested Colin Robertson at Grand Rapids in June of that year.[1]
Chief Factor, Hudson's Bay Company
At the union of the North West Company and the Hudson's Bay Company in 1821, McTavish became a chief factor. He was assigned command of York Factory, then the principal depot for the HBC's Northern Department. Governor George Simpson praised his business acumen and administrative efficiency, and appointed him to preside at Council during Simpson's absences from 1824 onward. His family with Nancy McKenzie grew to at least five daughters through the 1820s.[1]
Personal life
On 22 February 1830, while on furlough in Scotland, McTavish married Catherine A. Turner of Turner Hall, Aberdeenshire, effectively abandoning Nancy McKenzie and their daughters without provision. His conduct was sharply criticized by fellow traders John Stuart and Donald McKenzie, though Simpson defended McTavish and arranged a subsequent marriage for Nancy. McTavish and Catherine Turner had two daughters together.[1]
By the early 1830s McTavish's health had declined; he was granted furlough in 1835–36. He subsequently transferred to the Lake of Two Mountains district near Montreal and in 1837 purchased a farm at Lac des Chats. Catherine's death in October 1841 affected him deeply. He married again in March 1843, to Elizabeth (Eppie) Cameron, a niece of Chief Factor Angus Cameron; they had two daughters.[1]
Death
McTavish died on 20 July 1847 at Lac-des-Deux-Montagnes (Oka), Lower Canada, following a brief illness. He had spent close to fifty years in the fur trade. His estate, valued at approximately £6,000, was divided among the daughters of his marriages to Catherine Turner and Elizabeth Cameron.[1][2]
References
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 Sylvia Van Kirk."Sylvia Van Kirk, "McTAVISH, JOHN GEORGE," Dictionary of Canadian Biography, vol. 7."[website].Dictionary of Canadian Biography, vol. 7 (University of Toronto/Université Laval).1988.University of Toronto/Université Laval.Link.(Rights: copyrighted | Access: open)
- ↑ "J. G. McTavish will, 20 July 1847."[record].CM1, 1/12.Archives nationales du Québec à Montréal (ANQ-M); copy at Provincial Archives of Manitoba, Hudson's Bay Company Archives (PAM, HBCA).(Rights: unknown | Access: open)