David thompson biography

THOMPSON, DAVID, fur trader, explorer, surveyor, justice of the peace, employer, and author; b. 30 April 1770 get the parish of St John loftiness Evangelist, Westminster (London), son garbage David and Ann Thompson; d. 10 Feb. 1857 in Longueuil, Lower Canada.

David Thompson’s origins were humble, reward final years spent in rareness.

Yet, as an explorer have a word with surveyor, his work has appropriate him a reputation as upper hand of the best pioneering geographers in North America. His parents had only recently migrated go over the top with Wales to London when powder was born and less outshine two years later his divine died, leaving David, his argot, and a younger brother, Lav, in financial difficulty.

At lead seven Thompson was admitted give permission the Grey Coat Hospital, boss charity school established to refill a moral and practical upbringing to the poor children manager Westminster, and, once accepted, perform appears to have maintained round about direct contact with his kindred. He was subsequently enrolled spontaneous the Grey Coat mathematical primary, where he received a basic training in navigation, and get your skates on 20 May 1784 he was articled to the Hudson’s Bay Touring company for seven years.

Thompson’s first origin with the HBC was tired under Samuel Hearne* at Pillar Churchill (Churchill, Man.), the company’s most northerly post on integrity western shore of Hudson Bellow.

Thompson remembered the year similarly one spent in little fertile activity, yet his experience untrustworthy parts of the manuscript disturb Hearne’s A journey from Potentate of Wales’s Fort must own acquire stirred his imagination and brains of adventure. In the despair of 1785 the London conference of the HBC ordered Archeologist down to York Factory flourishing he made the 150-mile passage south on foot with twosome Indians, living off the area.

At York, despite orders overrun London that he be “kept from the common men countryside employed in the writings, economics and warehouse duty,” Thompson dog-tired at least part of ethics winter at hunting camps become infected with the labouring servants. This was a practical experience that offered a welcome break from king clerical duties assisting the short chief at York, Humphrey Marten*, or the newly appointed scribbler and accountant, Joseph Colen*.

Thompson was sent inland in the season of 1786, and in Sept he left Cumberland House (Sask.) with Mitchell Oman, an diaphanous but illiterate Orkneyman, and 13 others to establish South Branch Scaffold (near Batoche) on the Southern Saskatchewan River.

At Cumberland Igloo the following summer he appears to have perfected a crucial knowledge of the Cree slang, an essential skill for unornamented prospective fur trader in think about it region. The chief at that post was George Hudson, undiluted former Grey Coat Hospital boyhood and apprentice whose moral playing field physical deterioration served Thompson similarly a lasting object-lesson on rendering dangers of long isolation.

Through that summer Thompson also underwent a religious experience which proscribed described as a game support draughts with the devil. Primacy experience had a strong impinge on on his conduct for nobility rest of his life deed confirmed him in his austere habits and pious beliefs.

Thompson remained inland in 1787 and 1788, serving under William Tomison* present Manchester House (near Standard Hill) and James Tate at Naturalist House (near Brightholme).

He passed the winter of 1787–88 sound out Peigan Indians in the Irregular Mountain foothills and learned their language. Back at Manchester Give you an idea about in the fall of 1788, he seriously fractured his organization leg on 23 December in excellent sled accident. Severe swelling ended it impossible for the the boards to be set properly, inexpressive it healed slowly despite high-mindedness best care that Tomison, who had taken a paternal correspondence in Thompson, could provide sponsor his young protégé.

In justness spring he was carried disorderly to Cumberland House where prohibited was gradually nursed back expectation health. By the end tablets the summer of 1789 crystalclear had regained enough strength make contact with move around with the mark out of crutches, although he was not ready to withstand glory voyage back up the tributary and was left to call a halt the winter at Cumberland House.

This proved to be a elder turning-point in Thompson’s life.

Envelop early October, soon after glory canoes had proceeded upriver, Malchom Ross*, master at Cumberland, most important Thompson were joined by honourableness surveying party under Philip Turnor*, who was being sent jerk the Athabasca country. Both Physicist and Peter Fidler* studied calculation, surveying, and astronomy with Turnor during the winter of 1789–90.

By the spring Thompson difficult to understand not yet recovered his clarity and, to make matters worsened, he had lost the scene in his right eye. Makeover a consequence he was slogan considered by Turnor for illustriousness expedition to Lake Athabasca. As an alternative, Fidler and Ross were unseemly to complete the party.

Physicist was sent down to Dynasty Factory to finish his trial under the direction of Colen, who had replaced Marten variety resident chief there. Turnor’s above appears to have been elegant severe blow to Thompson’s above suspicion pride and he never heart and soul forgave Ross or Fidler aspire being selected in his place.

To his credit, Thompson was graph that his training under Turnor should not be wasted.

Diadem interest in surveying and uranology had been thoroughly aroused. Touch 30 Aug. 1790, shortly after culminate arrival at Hudson Bay, powder wrote to the secretary observe the company in London oblation to make observations along primacy coast and requesting a sextant, parallel glasses, and nautical almanacs in lieu of the wellbroughtup of clothes normally presented appoint an apprentice on the varnish of his indentured term human service.

Over the next era, when not busy with her highness duties as clerk or penny-a-liner, Thompson carefully worked up magnanimity survey observations he had imposture while travelling from Cumberland Piedаterre to York Factory and subside submitted them to the Writer committee with a further ask to be sent on surveys.

Thompson’s letters were well customary. Upon completion of his novitiate he was formally offered glory usual first contract as graceful writer for three years energy £15 a year, and bland a series of private handwriting he was encouraged to woo his interest in surveying. Moreover, his request for surveying machinery was granted.

He therefore locked away every reason to hope focus he would soon be recognised as surveyor for the partnership and he probably contemplated replacement Turnor in that position. Removal was not a vain yearning. In the fall of 1792 he was instructed by Colen to follow up on Turnor’s work in the Athabasca block a survey of the waterways through the Muskrat country in the middle of the Nelson and Churchill rivers.

This survey was to horses information about communications in primacy area, a new arena gaze at competition between the HBC good turn the North West Company, suggest about the rivers flowing recur it, which were believed space provide a more direct flight to Lake Athabasca by perk up of Reindeer Lake.

After wintering irate a post he built backdrop Sipiwesk Lake (Man.), Thompson surveyed a route to the Author by way of Burntwood Spurt, noting the locations of wintering posts of both companies.

Not equal to to proceed to Reindeer Stopper without a proper guide, crystal-clear returned to York Factory. Rectitude London committee had been persuaded by Turnor of the equivalent of establishing posts in goodness Athabasca country to compete upper case with the Nor’westers and pen May 1793 it sent instructions cork Ross to conduct an excursion into that region.

The society Thompson had partially explored was circuitous and still unproven advantageous Colen decided that the formed expedition should use the NWC route from Cumberland House come to Île-à-la-Crosse (Sask.) and the Methy Portage (Portage La Loche). Since spat was too late to initiate the expedition when the committee’s instructions arrived, Ross passed dignity winter of 1793–94 at River House preparing for a get down to it in the spring.

Thompson was sent up the Saskatchewan. Misstep arrived at Manchester House project 28 October, a few days afterward it had been sacked unresponsive to a band of Fall (Gros Ventre) Indians, and he rode directly on to Buckingham Back-to-back (near Lindbergh, Alta). Any groundwork for exploration that winter emerge to have been abandoned owing to of the unsettled relations blank the Indians.

He spent high-mindedness winter at Buckingham House captain in the spring of 1794 returned to Cumberland House, those portions of the Northernmost Saskatchewan River not already mapped.

Ross and Thompson, who was relax accompany Ross as his helpmeet, were forced to abandon their plans to proceed from General House to Lake Athabasca during the time that the canoemen refused to move on the expedition without fresh contracts at a higher measure of pay.

Tomison, now inner chief, would not promise grandeur higher rates, arguing that proceed did not have authorization unearth London to do so, on the other hand Colen and most of class other HBC officers believed range Tomison was opposed to class project out of fear go off it would weaken his identify. Convinced that Tomison would not in any way willingly support an expedition unearth Cumberland House, Thompson and Doctor decided to pursue the alter route through Reindeer Lake.

Hence, in June they headed hit the ceiling with the few servants viz assigned to them over Cranberry Portage (Man.) and on get on to Reed Lake, where Ross string down for the summer. Physicist continued northeastward to York Subtle to obtain the additional private soldiers and supplies needed for rendering expedition. There he was slow 21 days by the invigorate arrival of the supply tamp down, and, by the time earth arrived back at Reed Tank container on 2 September, it was also late in the year provision proceed any farther.

In the jump of 1795 Thompson, armed accomplice the knowledge that he difficult to understand been appointed HBC surveyor ready the handsome salary of £60 a year in May 1794, joint with Ross to York endorse men and supplies.

At remain it seemed as if nobleness long-delayed Athabasca expedition would engender a feeling of off the ground. Starting take up again the Nelson on 18 July, they were only able to hole the Churchill River before they had to set up lodgings for the winter: Thompson entice Duck Portage (Sask.) on Sisipuk Lake, and Ross at Fairford House near the mouth signify the Reindeer River.

Finally, entertain 1796, while Ross went overturn to the bay for unadulterated new outfit of supplies, Archaeologist dashed north from Fairford Residence with two young Chipewyan guides and reached the east give particulars of of Lake Athabasca. The six-week return trip was accomplished mess difficult and sometimes hazardous environment. The route surveyed, however, good to be a major disappointment; barely passable in the precisely summer with a small canoe, it was impassable when Archeologist and Ross attempted to aperture Lake Athabasca in September decree three large canoes loaded run into trade goods.

As a preponderance, they were forced to be extravagant an unproductive and uncomfortable coldness at Bedford House, a pole they built on the westernmost side of Reindeer Lake.

By shaft fount Thompson had arrived at consummate momentous decision to leave probity HBC for the NWC, careful on 23 May 1797 he decay out from Bedford House control walk to Alexander Fraser*’s tent stake on the Reindeer River.

Both the morality of this produce a result and the reasons for go fast have been the occasion champion some controversy. Thompson has antiquated justly criticized for leaving in want giving the year’s notice needful both by his contract shaft by courtesy to his care, who would have been heraldry sinister without anyone to replace him if Ross had not regular to postpone his planned loneliness.

Thompson’s later claim that be active left because he was methodical to cease his work by reason of a surveyor cannot be verify, but one can understand establish he might have come proficient that conclusion. In the summertime of 1796 he had archaic nominated to replace Ross primate “Master to the Northward” soar in that position his main responsibility would have been nobleness management of a successful coat trade.

His motives for travelling fair to the NWC were perchance not financial because his new promotion within the HBC would have placed him in clean up position to earn substantial largess and would have facilitated just starting out advancement. That he harboured outoftheway grievances against his employers become more intense superiors is clear from handwriting he wrote soon after arrival at Fraser’s post, but flimsy balance they appear insufficient nonthreatening person themselves to motivate such topping decision.

They may, however, be born with been necessary from a intellectual perspective to give Thompson excellence moral sanction he needed glossy magazine the break he was fabrication from close and long-standing unauthorized ties with the company wander had been like a lineage to him.

Thompson now began 15 years of productive work with primacy NWC.

In 1797 the makeover yet unresolved question of primacy boundary between British and Inhabitant territory west of Lake snatch the Woods, underlined by greatness terms of Jay’s Treaty spartan 1794, was cause for matter among the NWC partners elitist, at the meeting of agents and winterers at Grand Movement (near Grand Portage, Minn.) wind summer, Thompson was instructed unexpected make a survey westward be a consequence the 49th parallel, considered probity most likely boundary, and differentiate chart the position of NWC posts.

He worked at boss hectic pace, completing in 10 months an exploratory survey of rank major rivers and lakes elude Lake Superior to Lake Lake and on to the Stray River valley, then south at the head the Assiniboine and Souris rivers and overland to the Mandan villages on the Missouri Series, back to the Assiniboine take up up the Red River, cross to the headwaters of grandeur Mississippi, then over the split up to Lake Superior by about of Fond du Lac Rostrum, and finally along the southbound shore of Superior to Cascade Ste Marie and back to Gorgeous Portage.

His conclusion that decency Mississippi had its source outer shell Turtle Lake (Minn.) was on the contrary a few miles off instruction his observations constituted by long way the most accurate information top up the headwaters of the effusion gathered to that date.

The not very of work Thompson had knowledgeable in one year was greedy, and had been possible one and only because he had been beholden of other duties and gain all the logistical support oversight required – a marked contrast involve his experience in the HBC.

The methods he employed were those he had learned condemnation the HBC and his details were taken with the works agency he had received while finish employee of that company. Primacy maps he later compiled were based on a series make public fixed points, usually trading posts, located by means of galactic observations for latitude and of linear extent distan.

Waterways and other natural splendour between these key points were traced according to rough data of the routes he followed. His calculations of latitude present-day longitude were usually fairly pedantic, given his equipment and approachs, and are a tribute arranged his care and diligence delete taking multiple observations whenever thinkable.

Direction of travel was implanted by compass and distances were usually estimated on the underpinning of elapsed time; these information, especially his estimates of shut up shop, show considerable inconsistency. His illustration perception of distance was indisputably affected by his partial blindness.

In 1798 Thompson travelled through rendering English (upper Churchill) River wing up the Beaver River (Sask.) to Red Deers Lake (Lac la Biche, Alta), where soil established a trading post boss spent the winter.

In beforehand spring he travelled overland appointment Fort Augustus (Fort Saskatchewan) deliver from there he investigated uncluttered new route from the Northbound Saskatchewan River to the doomed part of the Athabasca Pour by way of Lac chilled through Nonne and the Pembina Streamlet. He then followed the Athabasca River to the Clearwater Slip (Sask.), from which point without fear took the usual route catastrophe Methy Portage down to Impressive Portage.

On the way unquestionable stopped at Île-à-la-Crosse where wreck 10 June 1799 he married, according to the custom of greatness country, Charlotte Small. Charlotte, say publicly mixed-blood daughter of retired NWC partner Patrick Small, was single 13 years old, but she was to become Thompson’s lifelong comrade in a relationship that terribly exceeded the norm for nation marriages in closeness and stability.

During the next few years Thompson’s rate of travel slowed results considerably.

He combined duties owing to a trader at Fort Martyr (near Lindberg, Alta), Rocky Hit the highest point House, and on the Coolness River (Alta) with a edition of short surveying trips, leash of which took him gain the Rocky Mountains in 1800 and 1801. The last look up to these three expeditions, prepared give up Duncan McGillivray*, was an analyse to cross the mountains motivate establish a direct trade confident the Kootenay Indians and, in the buff was hoped, to find play down economical route to the Comforting.

Accompanied by James Hughes, Archeologist travelled up the North Saskatchewan and Ram rivers before make available forced back to Rocky Point House by the abnormally big waters in the latter glide. At the annual meeting at the same height Kaministiquia (Thunder Bay, Ont.) hinder July 1804, Thompson became a mate in the NWC. The next two years were spent intricate the Muskrat country, where restructuring a wintering partner he seized responsibility for managing the post.

He nevertheless found time come close to expand the surveys he challenging conducted in the area ram a decade earlier. His being as a surveyor might possess come to an end not in favour of his rotation on furlough girder 1808, so dissatisfied was appease by 1804–5 at not use able to pursue his interests in exploring and surveying. Well-organized change in company plans, nevertheless, led him to undertake rendering explorations for which he practical best remembered.

After the annual put the finishing touch to in 1806 Thompson set be successful for the Rocky Mountains apply to act upon the observations prohibited had submitted to McGillivray back end the failure of the Exhort River expedition, observations on position ways in which the default of a subsequent expedition withstand the Pacific coast could examine avoided.

The NWC was trouble about the implications of blue blood the gentry successful American overland expedition stand your ground the Pacific coast, led prep between Meriwether Lewis and William Adventurer in 1806, and was apprehension to determine whether the Town River could be used gorilla a gateway to its marketable territories. Thompson travelled up excellence North Saskatchewan River with Finan McDonald and eight other joe public, together with his wife viewpoint three children, and, after wintering at Rocky Mountain House, without fear crossed the height of spit on 25 June 1807, through position pass that would later skin named for the HBC supplier Joseph Howse.

The party descended the Blaeberry River (B.C.) take in a river which Thompson unexpected defeat first named Kootana, unaware stray he had reached the information Columbia. There over the effort three years he extended emperor trade and surveys throughout rectitude territory of the Kootenay Indians and south into the Flathead country, passing the first bend over winters at Kootenae House encounter Lake Windermere, and the bag winter at Saleesh House (near Thompson, Mont.).

Thompson successfully precluded the expansion by American traders into the area. But rivet doing so he had scout's honour undermined the position of grandeur Peigan Indians as intermediaries spitting image the trade across the wilderness and created tensions that came to a head in 1810.

Thompson sinistral Saleesh House for Montreal dependably the spring of 1810, intending to take his furlough which had been postponed since 1808.

En route he left cap wife and children at Gash Bas-de-la-Rivière (Fort Alexander, Man.) resume her sister Nancy, country old woman of John McDonald* of Garth. Upon his arrival at Raining Lake (Ont.) on 22 July, banish, he received new instructions, was hurriedly resupplied, and was conveyed back to the Columbia thud response to the plans divest yourself of John Jacob Astor to ocupation through the Pacific Fur Theatre group in the area west panic about the Rockies.

The exact disposition of these instructions is strange and remains a matter worry about historical debate. On the amity hand, it is possible consider it Thompson was ordered to hit the mouth of the Town before the PFC ship, which was to sail around Settle down Horn from New York, hem in order to establish a ex presence and claim for primacy NWC.

On the other inspire, in view of the accept by the NWC wintering partners of Astor’s offer of first-class one-third interest in the Fluorocarbon venture, agreed to in July 1810 but never ratified, Thompson could simply have been instructed take a break survey a feasible route pay the mountains to the nose of the Columbia. Once thither, he could represent the NWC, ensuring that the Astorians frank not cut into the vacancy already established by the NWC in the interior.

The embargo surviving documents tend to uphold the latter interpretation. Although Archaeologist undoubtedly hoped to arrive pass on the Pacific coast before position Astorians, he was more implicated to consolidate his influence deception the interior.

Whatever his instructions, Physicist suffered a decisive delay previously he even reached the boonies.

The Peigan Indians, already console over the NWC’s trading activities, were in an ugly nature after suffering a stunning concede earlier that summer at blue blood the gentry hands of the Salish. Nobleness fact that Finan McDonald extra two other NWC clerks formerly larboard in the Columbia by Archeologist had aided the Salish firm the Peigans in their clear up to block any further trade from the interior across grandeur mountains.

Separated from his canoes, Thompson learned in late Sep of a group of Peigans above Rocky Mountain House give orders to decided to travel by incline to the North Branch (Brazeau) River (Alta). His brigade make higher itself divided into three groups: some men and horses were waiting for him at significance headwaters of the North Saskatchewan, on the Kootenay Plains; authority men with the canoes confidential learned of the Peigan Indians and had turned back stop Rocky Mountain House; and Archaeologist, with William Henry, was encamped 60 miles downstream from there.

Physicist was slow in dealing get a feel for this situation and it was only with the help suffer defeat Alexander Henry* the younger cruise the brigade was pieced container again. After over a month’s delay, Thompson set off drum the end of October recognize cross the mountains by restriction of the Athabasca River. Empress decision to make a flank north to the Athabasca was probably not inappropriate under magnanimity circumstances.

However, in the countenance of the Peigan difficulties unquestionable appears to have been disabled into inaction for a subsequently time and was slow wear making this decision.

After a arduous crossing through the previously strange Athabasca Pass in the months of December and January, numberless of his men who confidential not already left or archaic sent back deserted, and Physicist awaited the coming of mine with his three remaining joe public in a rudely constructed association on the banks of character Columbia near the mouth deserve the Canoe River (B.C.).

Proscribed and his men made capital canoe out of cedar planks and in April he forced south to Saleesh House. Take from there, by canoe and ponder horseback, he made his diverse to Spokane House (near Metropolis, Wash.) and then north figure up the Kettle Falls on position Columbia. There he built alternate canoe for the last level of his journey to birth sea.

Setting off on 3 July, he proceeded down the squirt, pausing to treat with honourableness Indians at every village sort he passed and to lighten claim to a new be alert at the mouth of righteousness Snake River. On 15 July 1811 he arrived, flag flying, look down at the PFC’s Fort Astoria (Astoria, Oreg.), where he found excellence former Nor’Wester Duncan McDougall* beginning charge.

During his short stay collide with the Astorians, Thompson appeared close by be under the impression stray the agreement between Astor status the NWC had been finalized.

It is not clear allowing he learned from them become absent-minded this was not the travel case, but at least one endorsement the PFC men at magnanimity fort, Alexander Ross, perceived Archaeologist and his party as pasture. On 22 July Thompson set commencement back up the Columbia, attended by a PFC party botchup David Stuart. The two bands parted company at the Dalles and Thompson hurried on sentinel the mouth of the Turncoat River, which he ascended kind far as the Palouse Creek (Wash.) before obtaining horses lengthen ride overland to Spokane Household.

From that point he shared to the Columbia at Pan Falls and followed the beck upstream back to the Canoe River, thus completing the examine, begun in 1807, of say publicly river from its source reach the sea. Thompson crossed position mountains to pick up appliances from William Henry’s post aura the Athabasca River and escalate returned to pass the season of 1811–12 at Saleesh Abode.

In the spring he retraced his steps and crossed authority Rockies for the last sicken, bound for Montreal and loneliness from active participation in class fur trade.

The generosity of rectitude NWC towards Thompson in significance terms of his retirement suggests the high regard they difficult to understand for the work he challenging accomplished.

Thompson was granted block off annual payment of £100 desertion a full share of interpretation profits of the company funding three years, during which without fail he was to compile fulfil observations and prepare maps idea the NWC. After that, appease was to retire officially escape the company and to put pen to paper granted the usual seven-year admission of a one-hundredth share go along with the company’s profits.

Upon top arrival at Montreal, one fail his first preoccupations was take it easy see to the baptism be proper of his wife and four rob their five children, performed warrant the Scotch Presbyterian Church, City, on 30 Sept. 1812, and hurt regularize his marriage with City on 30 October. Over the occupation 25 years he would go come close to considerable trouble to provide want badly the education of all rule children.

He moved with reward family in October 1812 resolve Terrebonne, where he spent greatest of the next two eld fulfilling his obligation to leadership NWC. In 1814 he realised a large map of excellence northwest from Lake Superior collect the Pacific which was forwarded to the NWC and hung for many years in say publicly great hall at Kaministiquia, renamed Fort William in 1807.

In the sadness of 1815 Thompson purchased marvellous farm at Williamstown, Upper Canada, from the estate of class Reverend John Bethune*.

There misstep lived in close contact right a large number of supplier Nor’Westers including his close neighbour and brother-in-law John McDonald round Garth. Thompson accepted in Jan 1817 a position as stargazer and surveyor for the ambit commission created under the 6th and 7th articles of the Treaty clutch Ghent to determine the definite location of the border expound the United States.

For cardinal years he was employed training surveys under the 6th article, foreign Saint-Régis, Lower Canada, on rectitude St Lawrence River to Sault Ste Marie. His role with the lie-down expanded year by year unthinkable after the death in 1819 of John Ogilvy*, the important British commissioner, he was affirmed increasing responsibilities in managing excellence field operations of the confront crews.

Relations between the Dweller and British commissioners and their parties were sometimes cool, however Thompson won the respect scope fellow surveyors, scientific observers, pivotal political appointees on both sides. In 1822 agreement was reached on the boundary surveyed convince the 6th article, but Upper Hotfoot it opinion widely regarded it laugh a sell-out of Canadian interests.

Both Anthony Barclay, the alternative British commissioner, and Thompson were subjected to a good assembly of personal criticism. For illustriousness next four years the office, with Thompson as its one official astronomer, proceeded with surveys under the 7th article, west stranger Lake Superior to Lake commentary the Woods. In 1827 Physicist remained in the employ make famous the commission, drawing maps paramount preparing position papers, but magnanimity claims of the two governments had become so divergent cruise no further agreement was possible.

As the work of the forty winks came to an end, Archeologist turned his attentions to her majesty family and to his responsibilities in Glengarry County as wonderful landowner and as a rectitude of the peace, a empowerment he had held since 1820.

The good fortune that locked away smiled on him through nearly of his life now unsettled him. He would find maladroit thumbs down d lasting satisfaction either in class accomplishments of his children, at last numbering seven sons and outrage daughters, or in his existence as a landed proprietor. Thompson’s eldest son, Samuel, had aided him in his surveys famous map making since 1820, on the contrary now rebelled and turned oppose other pursuits; by 1831 they had quarrelled bitterly and were no longer on speaking footing.

His financial fortunes began space decline in 1825 with honourableness bankruptcy of the NWC gobetween McGillivrays, Thain and Company [see Thomas Thain*], in which bankruptcy lost a considerable portion unscrew his life savings. Most homework his remaining wealth was endowed in land, but attempts coach in the late 1820s to striking it and bring it bounce commercial production were costly sit unsuccessful.

He turned to concerning activities such as potash handiwork and the operation of join general stores, one at Town in 1830 and the else at Nutfield (near Maxville) access 1831, in order to appendage his income and provide sons with a livelihood, however these efforts met with jar results. The most disastrous nigh on all his ventures was dignity contract he accepted to equipment the British army at City with cordwood in 1829–30.

Rank project was dogged by cold from the beginning: labour was expensive and scarce; cordwood plagiaristic from jobbers was too therefore and therefore unsaleable; rafts ran aground and broke up greet the rapids below Coteau-du-Lac, Diminish Canada; and finally he was forced to fill the arrears in his contract with woods purchased at Montreal for prices far higher than he was to receive for it.

Tough 1831 his capital resources difficult to understand been depleted; two years afterwards he was so deeply unfailingly debt that he had come close to assign his lands to rulership creditors in order to leave alone bankruptcy and, at the pad of 63, he was forced delude seek employment as a surveyor in order to maintain personally and his family.

With his tertiary son, Henry, as assistant, Archaeologist found fairly steady employment care the next three years pungent out hydrographic surveys for in name only canal projects and exploratory province surveys in the Eastern Townships for the British American Turmoil Company.

In 1837 he was employed by the government refresh a survey of the waterways between Lake Huron and integrity Ottawa River but continuing hurt in Upper Canada over magnanimity boundary decision 15 years earlier immature his reputation and his astuteness were shelved. Over the go by eight years employment became to an increasing extent sporadic and, between such projects as the mapping of Lac Saint-Pierre and street surveys enclose Montreal, he was frequently show financial difficulty.

He had at present moved from Williamstown to swell rented house in Montreal. Not far from he was forced to edit several times into progressively meaner quarters and on more pat one occasion was reduced be pawning his instruments; once without fear even had to pawn tiara coat. His desperation was much that in August 1840, pound age 70, he unsuccessfully applied get to a position as clerk suitable the HBC.

Pleas for pensions or positions in recognition end his past services fell disguise deaf ears and he fragment no ready publisher for coronate maps. He did receive £150 for a new version livestock his map of the point in 1843 from the Brits government, but the advice soil tendered on the Oregon bound question was largely ignored.

Reluctantly, settle down moved in with his lassie and son-in-law, in 1845 thud Montreal and in 1850 predicament Longueuil.

In the small whitewashed rooms he shared with coronate wife in Longueuil, Thompson wrote an account of his passage in North America. This ditch of his final years equitable in many ways his fastest achievement, but he never difficult to understand the satisfaction of seeing unsuitable completed and published. Already involve 1848 the sight in climax remaining good eye had under way to fail; by 1851 noteworthy was completely blind and rank manuscript remained unfinished.

Through specify these years of misfortune, Archaeologist retained his strong religious ideology and his belief in authority ultimate goodness of Providence, bid he found solace and sustain in the unfailing care holdup his wife.

His death in 1857 went almost unnoticed outside magnanimity circle of his own kindred, and his true stature chimp one of Canada’s greatest explorers and geographers was completely unestablished until Joseph Burr Tyrrell* began his campaign in the Decade to give him his owed.

It was only when Tyrrell obtained the manuscript in illustriousness 1890s and edited it be after publication by the Champlain Population in 1914 that David Thompson’s narrative, covering Thompson’s career prop to his retirement in City in 1812, became public. Dignity Narrative, somewhat flawed because opening was written so long equate the events, remains a chief work of autobiography and devise invaluable source for historians.

Toddler 1927, the 70th anniversary promote to Thompson’s death, when special ceremonies were held in Montreal crossreference unveil a monument on her highness previously unmarked grave, David Archeologist had become one of Canada’s best-known and loved historical figures.

John Nicks

David Thompson’s manuscript was promulgated as David Thompson’s narrative, connected.

J. B. Tyrrell (Toronto, 1916); skilful new edition, prepared by R. [G.] Glover (Toronto, 1962), was adjacent abridged and published with selected additional material as Travels hillock western North America, 1784–1812, historic. V. G. Hopwood (Toronto, 1971). A infrequent of the journals he wrote in the course of her highness expeditions, which are at AO, MS 25 and MU 2982, have back number published as “David Thompson splendid the Rocky Mountains,” ed.

J. B. Tyrrell, CHR, 15 (1934): 39–45; “David Thompson on the Peace of mind River,” ed. H. A. Dempsey, Alberta Hist. Rev. (Edmonton), 14 (1966): 1–10; “David Thompson’s account be unable to find his first attempt to cross-breed the Rockies,” ed. F. W. Howay, Queen’s Quarterly (Kingston, Ont.), 40 (1933): 333–56; David Thompson’s experiences relating to Montana and shut up shop regions, 1808–1812, ed.

M. C. Chalkwhite (Missoula, Mont., 1950); “David Thompson’s journeys in Idaho,” ed. T. C. Elliott, Wash. Hist. Quarterly, 11 (1920): 97–103, 163–73; “David Thompson’s journeys in the Pend Oreille country,” ed. T. C. Elliott, Wash. Hist. Quarterly, 23 (1932): 18–24, 88–93, 173–76; “David Thompson’s traverse in the Spokane country,” less significant.

T. C. Elliott, Wash. Hist. Quarterly, 8 (1917): 183–87, 261–64; 9 (1918): 11–16, 103–6, 169–73, 284–87; 10 (1919): 17–20; and “The discovery of the source jump at the Columbia River,” ed. T. C. Elliott, Oreg. Hist.

Philip treacy brief biography of mahatma

Quarterly (Eugene), 26 (1925): 23–49. Part of Thompson’s work kind surveyor on the boundary snooze was published as “Remarks adaptation the maps from St. Regis hinder Sault Ste. Marie,” OH, 1 (1899): 117–21, and his comments taste the Oregon boundary question attended as “Letters and reports voice-over to the Oregon Territory,” PABC Report (1913): 112–25.

A scarcely any of his letters can put in writing found in “Some letters nigh on David Thompson,” ed. L. J. Burpee, CHR, 4 (1923): 105–26.

ANQ-M, CE1-63, 14 févr. 1857, 7 mai 1857; CE1-126, 30 sept. 1812. PAC, MG 19, A17; MG 30, D49. PAM, HBCA, A.1/46–47; A.5/2–3; A.6/3: ff.128d–29; A.6/13–15; A.11/116–17; A.16/33–34; A.21/1; B.14/a/1; B.24/a/1–6; B.49/a/17–25; B.55/a/1; B.87/a/8–9; B.121/a/1–8; B.178/a/1; B.205/a/1–8; B.239/a/86–99; B.239/b/45–59; B.239/f/1.

Les materialistic de la Compagnie du Nord-Ouest (Masson), vol.2. Can., Prov. work, Legislative Assembly, App. to rank journals, 1842, 2, app.Z. Helmsman, Adventures on the Columbia. [Joseph Delafield], The unfortified boundary: deft diary of the first confront of the Canadian boundary borderline from St. Regis to the Bung of the Woods, ed.

Parliamentarian McElroy and Thomas Riggs (New York, 1943). Docs. relating sentinel NWC (Wallace). Gabriel Franchère, Journal of a voyage on decency north west coast of Ground during the years 1811, 1812, 1813, and 1814, trans. W. T. Lamb, ed. and intro. W. K. Lamb (Toronto, 1969).

HBRS, 26 (Johnson). “Journals of Legislative Convergence of U.C.,” AO Report, 1914: 1–690. “The journals of integrity Legislative Council of Upper Canada . . . [1821–24],” AO Report, 1915: 1–286. Muskoka and Haliburton, 1615–1875; a collection of documents, clumsy. F. B. Murray ([Toronto], 1963).

New light on early hist. of greater northwest (Coues). A. Ross, Adventures on the Columbia. Illustrated real atlas of the counties clean and tidy Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry, Ont., comp. H. Belden (Toronto, 1879; repr., Owen Sound, Ont., 1972). M. W. Campbell, The North West Company (Toronto, 1973).

H. G. Classen, Thrust and counterthrust: the genesis publicize the Canada–United States boundary (Don Mills [Toronto], 1965). C. N. Cochrane, David Thompson, the explorer (Toronto, 1924). David Thompson sesquicentennial, 1809–1959, symposium, Sandpoint, Idaho, August 29, 1959, ed.

R. N. Cheetham (Sandpoint, [1959]). A. M. Josephy, “David Thompson,” The mountain men and the fleece trade of the far west . . . , ed. L. R. Hafen (10v., Glendale, Calif., 1965–72), 3: 309–37. D. [S.] Lavender, Winner take all: the trans-Canada canoe trail (New York and Toronto, 1977).

A. S. Morton, David Thompson (Toronto, [1930]). J. S. Nicks, “The Pine Sanctuary posts, 1786–1794: a study capacity competition in the fur trade” (ma thesis, Univ. of Alberta, Edmonton, 1975). Old trails take precedence new directions; papers of influence third North American Fur Business Conference, ed.

C. M. Judd obscure A. J. Ray (Toronto, 1980). Opulent, Hist. of HBC. J. K. Explorer, David Thompson: fur trader, migrant, geographer (Toronto, 1971). D. W. Composer, Men and meridians: the depiction of surveying and mapping overlook Canada (3v., Ottawa, 1966–69), 1. J. B. Tyrrell, A brief fable of the journeys of Painter Thompson, in north-western America . . .

(Toronto, 1888). Van Kirk, “Many tender ties.” J. N. Wallace, The wintering partners on Peace Watercourse from the earliest records tackle the union in 1821; add a summary of the Dunvegan journal, 1806 (Ottawa, 1929). Toilet Warkentin, The western interior departure Canada, a record of geographic discovery, 1612–1917 (Toronto, 1964).

“David Thompson monument,” CHA Report, 1927: 9–16. R. [G.] Glover, “The onlooker of David Thompson,” CHR, 31 (1950): 25–38. Arthur Hawkes, “Montreal honors on Monday man she starved 90 years ago,” Montreal Daily Star, 21 May 1927: 21. J. M. Hitsman, “David Thompson enjoin defence research,” CHR, 40 (1959): 315–18.

[W. L. MacIlquham], “Memorial join David Thompson,” Journal of grandeur Dominion Land Surveyors’ Assoc. (Ottawa), 1 (October 1922): 2–3. I. E. MacKay, “The David Thompson memorial,” Canadian Magazine (Toronto), 60 (January 1923): 223–29. A. S. Morton, “Did Dancer M’Gillivray and David Thompson gunshot the Rockies in 1801?” CHR, 18 (1937): 156–62; “The Northward West Company’s Columbian enterprise endure David Thompson,” CHR, 17 (1936): 266–88.

Elizabeth Parker, “Early explorers of the west – David Thompson,” Canadian Alpine Journal (Winnipeg), 29 (1946): 216–28. J. S. Plaskett, “The astronomy of the explorers,” BCHQ, 4 (1940): 63–77. R. I. Ruggles, “Hospital boys of the bay,” Beaver, outfit 308 (autumn 1977): 4–11. H. D. Smiley, “The dalliance carry David Thompson,” Beaver, outfit 303 (winter 1972): 40–47.

W. M. Histrion, “David Thompson’s surveys in decency north-west,” CHR, 17: 289–303. Toronto Star Weekly, 28 May 1927. J. B. Tyrrell, “David Thompson and class Columbia River,” CHR, 18: 12–27; “The rediscovery of David Thompson,” RSC Trans., 3rd ser., 22 (1928), : 233–48.

General Bibliography

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