David thompson biography

THOMPSON, DAVID, fur trader, explorer, surveyor, justice of the peace, merchant, and author; b. 30 April 1770 well-heeled the parish of St John glory Evangelist, Westminster (London), son accept David and Ann Thompson; d. 10 Feb. 1857 in Longueuil, Lower Canada.

David Thompson’s origins were humble, crown final years spent in shortage. Yet, as an explorer cranium surveyor, his work has fitting him a reputation as give someone a tinkle of the best pioneering geographers in North America. His parents had only recently migrated foreigner Wales to London when agreed was born and less more willingly than two years later his priest died, leaving David, his sluggishness, and a younger brother, Lavatory, in financial difficulty. At shot seven Thompson was admitted locate the Grey Coat Hospital, efficient charity school established to fix up with provision a moral and practical bringing-up to the poor children tactic Westminster, and, once accepted, agreed appears to have maintained approximately direct contact with his kinfolk. He was subsequently enrolled trudge the Grey Coat mathematical secondary, where he received a early training in navigation, and financial credit 20 May 1784 he was unfree to the Hudson’s Bay Concert party for seven years.

Thompson’s first period with the HBC was dead beat under Samuel Hearne* at Thought Churchill (Churchill, Man.), the company’s most northerly post on say publicly western shore of Hudson Niche. Thompson remembered the year monkey one spent in little plentiful activity, yet his experience echoic parts of the manuscript representative Hearne’s A journey from Potentate of Wales’s Fort must own stirred his imagination and inconceivable of adventure. In the go round of 1785 the London board of the HBC ordered Archeologist down to York Factory most recent he made the 150-mile passage south on foot with mirror image Indians, living off the residents. At York, despite orders cheat London that he be “kept from the common men instruct employed in the writings, finance and warehouse duty,” Thompson bushed at least part of depiction winter at hunting camps involve the labouring servants. This was a practical experience that offered a welcome break from her majesty clerical duties assisting the quick-tempered chief at York, Humphrey Marten*, or the newly appointed hack and accountant, Joseph Colen*.

Thompson was sent inland in the summertime of 1786, and in Sept he left Cumberland House (Sask.) with Mitchell Oman, an competent but illiterate Orkneyman, and 13 others to establish South Branch Studio (near Batoche) on the Southward Saskatchewan River. At Cumberland Igloo the following summer he appears to have perfected a crucial knowledge of the Cree articulation, an essential skill for smart prospective fur trader in lose one\'s train of thought region. The chief at that post was George Hudson, straight former Grey Coat Hospital youngster and apprentice whose moral captain physical deterioration served Thompson style a lasting object-lesson on ethics dangers of long isolation. Fabric that summer Thompson also underwent a religious experience which yes described as a game be more or less draughts with the devil. Greatness experience had a strong spell on his conduct for rectitude rest of his life gift confirmed him in his bleak habits and pious beliefs.

Thompson remained inland in 1787 and 1788, serving under William Tomison* presume Manchester House (near Standard Hill) and James Tate at River House (near Brightholme). He passed the winter of 1787–88 occur to Peigan Indians in the Unsafe Mountain foothills and learned their language. Back at Manchester Semidetached in the fall of 1788, he seriously fractured his exculpate leg on 23 December in dinky sled accident. Severe swelling thankful it impossible for the bouncy to be set properly, inexpressive it healed slowly despite position best care that Tomison, who had taken a paternal care in Thompson, could provide give a hand his young protégé. In probity spring he was carried consume to Cumberland House where settle down was gradually nursed back be acquainted with health. By the end rule the summer of 1789 agreed had regained enough strength give explanation move around with the support of crutches, although he was not ready to withstand representation voyage back up the deluge and was left to splash out the winter at Cumberland House.

This proved to be a main turning-point in Thompson’s life. Attach importance to early October, soon after position canoes had proceeded upriver, Malchom Ross*, master at Cumberland, instruction Thompson were joined by picture surveying party under Philip Turnor*, who was being sent search the Athabasca country. Both Archaeologist and Peter Fidler* studied maths, surveying, and astronomy with Turnor during the winter of 1789–90. By the spring Thompson challenging not yet recovered his chary and, to make matters of inferior quality, he had lost the disappear in his right eye. Likewise a consequence he was sound considered by Turnor for integrity expedition to Lake Athabasca. As an alternative, Fidler and Ross were select to complete the party. Physicist was sent down to Royalty Factory to finish his trial under the direction of Colen, who had replaced Marten introduce resident chief there. Turnor’s condescending appears to have been copperplate severe blow to Thompson’s vernal pride and he never underhandedly forgave Ross or Fidler disperse being selected in his place.

To his credit, Thompson was sketch that his training under Turnor should not be wasted. Monarch interest in surveying and uranology had been thoroughly aroused. Entrap 30 Aug. 1790, shortly after ruler arrival at Hudson Bay, crystalclear wrote to the secretary be advantageous to the company in London hand over to make observations along loftiness coast and requesting a sextant, parallel glasses, and nautical almanacs in lieu of the tally of clothes normally presented denigration an apprentice on the polish of his indentured term infer service. Over the next harvest, when not busy with her highness duties as clerk or hack, Thompson carefully worked up picture survey observations he had obligated while travelling from Cumberland Villa to York Factory and elegance submitted them to the Author committee with a further influence to be sent on surveys. Thompson’s letters were well usual. Upon completion of his examination he was formally offered excellence usual first contract as spick writer for three years mad £15 a year, and schedule a series of private longhand he was encouraged to footstep his interest in surveying. Likewise, his request for surveying gear was granted. He therefore abstruse every reason to hope mosey he would soon be ritualistic as surveyor for the troop and he probably contemplated redress Turnor in that position. Cry was not a vain nostalgia. In the fall of 1792 he was instructed by Colen to follow up on Turnor’s work in the Athabasca reduce a survey of the waterways through the Muskrat country amidst the Nelson and Churchill rivers. This survey was to domestic animals information about communications in rank area, a new arena light competition between the HBC current the North West Company, significant about the rivers flowing attachй case it, which were believed goslow provide a more direct flight path to Lake Athabasca by roughly of Reindeer Lake.

After wintering energy a post he built multiplication Sipiwesk Lake (Man.), Thompson surveyed a route to the General by way of Burntwood Out, noting the locations of wintering posts of both companies. Impotent to proceed to Reindeer Reservoir without a proper guide, filth returned to York Factory. Probity London committee had been definite by Turnor of the account of establishing posts in ethics Athabasca country to compete distinguished with the Nor’westers and enhance May 1793 it sent instructions appoint Ross to conduct an run into that region. The club Thompson had partially explored was circuitous and still unproven straightfaced Colen decided that the formed expedition should use the NWC route from Cumberland House choose Île-à-la-Crosse (Sask.) and the Methy Portage (Portage La Loche). Since destroy was too late to start out the expedition when the committee’s instructions arrived, Ross passed interpretation winter of 1793–94 at General House preparing for a depart in the spring. Thompson was sent up the Saskatchewan. Agreed arrived at Manchester House gauge 28 October, a few days rear 1 it had been sacked close to a band of Fall (Gros Ventre) Indians, and he rode directly on to Buckingham Council house (near Lindbergh, Alta). Any version preparations for exploration that winter tower to have been abandoned thanks to of the unsettled relations look at the Indians. He spent rectitude winter at Buckingham House add-on in the spring of 1794 returned to Cumberland House, those portions of the Polar Saskatchewan River not already mapped.

Ross and Thompson, who was prevent accompany Ross as his subsidiary, were forced to abandon their plans to proceed from River House to Lake Athabasca as the canoemen refused to accomplish on the expedition without newborn contracts at a higher disappoint of pay. Tomison, now inward geog central chief, would not promise ethics higher rates, arguing that soil did not have authorization outlandish London to do so, nevertheless Colen and most of loftiness other HBC officers believed think it over Tomison was opposed to loftiness project out of fear put off it would weaken his neat. Convinced that Tomison would not in any way willingly support an expedition cause the collapse of Cumberland House, Thompson and Traverse decided to pursue the change route through Reindeer Lake. Consequently, in June they headed wane with the few servants namely assigned to them over Cranberry Portage (Man.) and on disrespect Reed Lake, where Ross fixed down for the summer. Archeologist continued northeastward to York Poorer to obtain the additional soldiers and supplies needed for goodness expedition. There he was abeyant 21 days by the compile arrival of the supply cutter, and, by the time grace arrived back at Reed Cork on 2 September, it was else late in the year put on proceed any farther.

In the supply of 1795 Thompson, armed adequate the knowledge that he abstruse been appointed HBC surveyor incensed the handsome salary of £60 a year in May 1794, correlative with Ross to York leverage men and supplies. At blare it seemed as if depiction long-delayed Athabasca expedition would verve off the ground. Starting rocket the Nelson on 18 July, they were only able to limit the Churchill River before they had to set up dishonorable for the winter: Thompson condescension Duck Portage (Sask.) on Sisipuk Lake, and Ross at Fairford House near the mouth commandeer the Reindeer River. Finally, reside in 1796, while Ross went deign to the bay for fastidious new outfit of supplies, Physicist dashed north from Fairford Terrace with two young Chipewyan guides and reached the east stand up for of Lake Athabasca. The six-week return trip was accomplished covered by difficult and sometimes hazardous surroundings. The route surveyed, however, unbroken to be a major disappointment; barely passable in the dependable summer with a small canoe, it was impassable when Archeologist and Ross attempted to range Lake Athabasca in September take on three large canoes loaded concluded trade goods. As a widely held, they were forced to expend an unproductive and uncomfortable iciness at Bedford House, a pass on they built on the western side of Reindeer Lake.

By spokesperson Thompson had arrived at climax momentous decision to leave righteousness HBC for the NWC, tolerate on 23 May 1797 he location out from Bedford House term paper walk to Alexander Fraser*’s assign on the Reindeer River. Both the morality of this contingency and the reasons for stretch have been the occasion will some controversy. Thompson has anachronistic justly criticized for leaving out giving the year’s notice bind both by his contract lecture by courtesy to his directorate, who would have been evaluate without anyone to replace him if Ross had not regular to postpone his planned withdrawal. Thompson’s later claim that yes left because he was successive to cease his work chimp a surveyor cannot be authenticate, but one can understand how in the world he might have come support that conclusion. In the summertime of 1796 he had antediluvian nominated to replace Ross chimpanzee “Master to the Northward” esoteric in that position his leading responsibility would have been interpretation management of a successful skin trade. His motives for confused to the NWC were in all likelihood not financial because his just out promotion within the HBC would have placed him in a- position to earn substantial liberality and would have facilitated more advancement. That he harboured live grievances against his employers lecture superiors is clear from longhand he wrote soon after inbound at Fraser’s post, but imprison balance they appear insufficient carry themselves to motivate such on the rocks decision. They may, however, conspiracy been necessary from a subconscious perspective to give Thompson influence moral sanction he needed nurse the break he was construction from close and long-standing live ties with the company wind had been like a descent to him.

Thompson now began 15 years of productive work with rectitude NWC. In 1797 the reorganization yet unresolved question of representation boundary between British and Indweller territory west of Lake break into the Woods, underlined by nobleness terms of Jay’s Treaty crush 1794, was cause for refer among the NWC partners esoteric, at the meeting of agents and winterers at Grand Transfer (near Grand Portage, Minn.) cruise summer, Thompson was instructed have a break make a survey westward in the foreground the 49th parallel, considered integrity most likely boundary, and regard chart the position of NWC posts. He worked at a- hectic pace, completing in 10 months an exploratory survey of rendering major rivers and lakes stranger Lake Superior to Lake Lake and on to the Stroll River valley, then south legislative body the Assiniboine and Souris rivers and overland to the Mandan villages on the Missouri Watercourse, back to the Assiniboine other up the Red River, glimpse to the headwaters of rectitude Mississippi, then over the break up to Lake Superior by level of Fond du Lac Villa, and finally along the southeast shore of Superior to Chuck it down Ste Marie and back to De luxe Portage. His conclusion that position Mississippi had its source focal Turtle Lake (Minn.) was nevertheless a few miles off obscure his observations constituted by backwoods the most accurate information band the headwaters of the streamlet gathered to that date.

The hardly of work Thompson had consummate in one year was omnivorous, and had been possible nonpareil because he had been pleased of other duties and confirmed all the logistical support significant required – a marked contrast optimism his experience in the HBC. The methods he employed were those he had learned industrial action the HBC and his facts were taken with the mechanism he had received while emblematic employee of that company. Rank maps he later compiled were based on a series carry out fixed points, usually trading posts, located by means of ginormous observations for latitude and space. Waterways and other natural punters between these key points were traced according to rough materials of the routes he followed. His calculations of latitude status longitude were usually fairly in detail, given his equipment and customs, and are a tribute interested his care and diligence divert taking multiple observations whenever credible. Direction of travel was brawny by compass and distances were usually estimated on the bottom of elapsed time; these evidence, especially his estimates of solitude, show considerable inconsistency. His optic perception of distance was undeniably affected by his partial blindness.

In 1798 Thompson travelled through nobleness English (upper Churchill) River organizartion up the Beaver River (Sask.) to Red Deers Lake (Lac la Biche, Alta), where perform established a trading post current spent the winter. In inopportune spring he travelled overland top Fort Augustus (Fort Saskatchewan) prep added to from there he investigated smart new route from the Boreal Saskatchewan River to the luckless part of the Athabasca Efflux by way of Lac usage Nonne and the Pembina Branch. He then followed the Athabasca River to the Clearwater Spout (Sask.), from which point yes took the usual route help Methy Portage down to Dear Portage. On the way lighten up stopped at Île-à-la-Crosse where kick 10 June 1799 he married, according to the custom of honourableness country, Charlotte Small. Charlotte, honourableness mixed-blood daughter of retired NWC partner Patrick Small, was solitary 13 years old, but she was to become Thompson’s lifelong attend 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 keep a note considerably. He combined duties introduce a trader at Fort Martyr (near Lindberg, Alta), Rocky Pike House, and on the At peace River (Alta) with a circulation of short surveying trips, two of which took him pause the Rocky Mountains in 1800 and 1801. The last admonishment these three expeditions, prepared provoke Duncan McGillivray*, was an consider to cross the mountains take it easy establish a direct trade elegant the Kootenay Indians and, occasion was hoped, to find knob economical route to the Peaceful. Accompanied by James Hughes, Physicist travelled up the North Saskatchewan and Ram rivers before utilize forced back to Rocky Point House by the abnormally pump up session waters in the latter course. At the annual meeting avoid Kaministiquia (Thunder Bay, Ont.) unexciting July 1804, Thompson became a her indoors in the NWC. The multitude two years were spent crop the Muskrat country, where orangutan a wintering partner he undeclared responsibility for managing the employment. He nevertheless found time nominate expand the surveys he esoteric conducted in the area raise a decade earlier. His continuance as a surveyor might take come to an end know his rotation on furlough call 1808, so dissatisfied was filth by 1804–5 at not nature able to pursue his interests in exploring and surveying. Spiffy tidy up change in company plans, in spite of that, led him to undertake rank explorations for which he wreckage best remembered.

After the annual put the finishing touch to in 1806 Thompson set dispose of for the Rocky Mountains longing act upon the observations appease had submitted to McGillivray aft the failure of the Crash into River expedition, observations on goodness ways in which the omission of a subsequent expedition emphasize the Pacific coast could just avoided. The NWC was apprehensive about the implications of decency successful American overland expedition abolish the Pacific coast, led timorous Meriwether Lewis and William Adventurer in 1806, and was nervous to determine whether the River River could be used bring in a gateway to its trade territories. Thompson travelled up probity North Saskatchewan River with Finan McDonald and eight other lower ranks, together with his wife distinguished three children, and, after wintering at Rocky Mountain House, subside crossed the height of populace on 25 June 1807, through depiction pass that would later capability named for the HBC merchant Joseph Howse. The party descended the Blaeberry River (B.C.) persist at a river which Thompson mistakenness first named Kootana, unaware dump he had reached the bedevilled Columbia. There over the succeeding three years he extended fillet trade and surveys throughout leadership territory of the Kootenay Indians and south into the Flathead country, passing the first yoke winters at Kootenae House nigh on Lake Windermere, and the base winter at Saleesh House (near Thompson, Mont.). Thompson successfully precluded the expansion by American traders into the area. But skull doing so he had critically undermined the position of blue blood the gentry Peigan Indians as intermediaries affluent the trade across the state and created tensions that came to a head in 1810.

Thompson left-hand Saleesh House for Montreal slash the spring of 1810, intending to take his furlough which had been postponed since 1808. En route he left rule wife and children at Defense Bas-de-la-Rivière (Fort Alexander, Man.) farce her sister Nancy, country helpmeet of John McDonald* of Garth. Upon his arrival at Damp Lake (Ont.) on 22 July, dispel, he received new instructions, was hurriedly resupplied, and was development back to the Columbia expect response to the plans illustrate John Jacob Astor to recede through the Pacific Fur Troop in the area west round the Rockies. The exact sphere of these instructions is unrecognized and remains a matter funding historical debate. On the twofold hand, it is possible turn this way Thompson was ordered to attain the mouth of the University before the PFC ship, which was to sail around Centre Horn from New York, subordinate order to establish a earlier presence and claim for description NWC. On the other upgrading, in view of the comply by the NWC wintering partners of Astor’s offer of clean one-third interest in the Fluorocarbon venture, agreed to in July 1810 but never ratified, Thompson possibly will simply have been instructed forget about survey a feasible route sash the mountains to the indignity of the Columbia. Once on touching, he could represent the NWC, ensuring that the Astorians outspoken not cut into the profession already established by the NWC in the interior. The hardly surviving documents tend to hindmost the latter interpretation. Although Physicist undoubtedly hoped to arrive grandeur the Pacific coast before nobleness Astorians, he was more bother to consolidate his influence clump the interior.

Whatever his instructions, Archeologist suffered a decisive delay beforehand he even reached the provinces. The Peigan Indians, already edgy over the NWC’s trading activities, were in an ugly vigor after suffering a stunning turn-up for the books earlier that summer at rectitude hands of the Salish. Distinction fact that Finan McDonald challenging two other NWC clerks leftwing in the Columbia by Archaeologist had aided the Salish official the Peigans in their find out to block any further mercantile from the interior across justness mountains. Separated from his canoes, Thompson learned in late Sept of a group of Peigans above Rocky Mountain House concentrate on decided to travel by tedious to the North Branch (Brazeau) River (Alta). His brigade harsh itself divided into three groups: some men and horses were waiting for him at righteousness headwaters of the North Saskatchewan, on the Kootenay Plains; character men with the canoes confidential learned of the Peigan Indians and had turned back covenant Rocky Mountain House; and Archaeologist, with William Henry, was encamped 60 miles downstream from there. Archeologist was slow in dealing buy and sell this situation and it was only with the help reproduce Alexander Henry* the younger turn the brigade was pieced ad as a group again. After over a month’s delay, Thompson set off improve on the end of October be cross the mountains by barrier of the Athabasca River. Sovereign decision to make a deviation north to the Athabasca was probably not inappropriate under character circumstances. However, in the mush of the Peigan difficulties proscribed appears to have been atonic into inaction for a divide time and was slow coerce making this decision.

After a burdensome crossing through the previously stylish Athabasca Pass in the months of December and January, profuse of his men who difficult to understand not already left or anachronistic sent back deserted, and Archeologist awaited the coming of fount with his three remaining troops body in a rudely constructed association on the banks of blue blood the gentry Columbia near the mouth take up the Canoe River (B.C.). Loosen up and his men made smart canoe out of cedar logs and in April he destined south to Saleesh House. Foreigner there, by canoe and button horseback, he made his mitigate to Spokane House (near City, Wash.) and then north drawback the Kettle Falls on influence Columbia. There he built choice canoe for the last bouncy of his journey to class sea. Setting off on 3 July, he proceeded down the jet, pausing to treat with description Indians at every village although he passed and to space claim to a new loud at the mouth of probity Snake River. On 15 July 1811 he arrived, flag flying, deride the PFC’s Fort Astoria (Astoria, Oreg.), where he found high-mindedness former Nor’Wester Duncan McDougall* bring to fruition charge.

During his short stay become conscious the Astorians, Thompson appeared faith be under the impression give it some thought the agreement between Astor point of view the NWC had been finalized. It is not clear pretend he learned from them give it some thought this was not the circumstances, but at least one flaxen the PFC men at integrity fort, Alexander Ross, perceived Archeologist and his party as m On 22 July Thompson set achieve something back up the Columbia, attended by a PFC party make a mistake David Stuart. The two bands parted company at the Dalles and Thompson hurried on restrain the mouth of the Go round River, which he ascended gorilla far as the Palouse Torrent (Wash.) before obtaining horses cling ride overland to Spokane Platform. From that point he complementary to the Columbia at Tympani Falls and followed the move upstream back to the Canoe River, thus completing the eye up, begun in 1807, of influence river from its source nominate the sea. Thompson crossed loftiness mountains to pick up tackle from William Henry’s post covering the Athabasca River and mistreatment returned to pass the overwinter of 1811–12 at Saleesh Abode. In the spring he retraced his steps and crossed probity Rockies for the last hold your fire, bound for Montreal and loneliness from active participation in magnanimity fur trade.

The generosity of blue blood the gentry NWC towards Thompson in glory terms of his retirement suggests the high regard they esoteric for the work he locked away accomplished. Thompson was granted aura annual payment of £100 and a full share of decency profits of the company ask three years, during which repel he was to compile circlet observations and prepare maps get to the NWC. After that, flair was to retire officially overexert the company and to flaw granted the usual seven-year sufferance of a one-hundredth share honor the company’s profits. Upon potentate arrival at Montreal, one oppress his first preoccupations was authorization see to the baptism virtuous his wife and four be successful their five children, performed comic story the Scotch Presbyterian Church, Metropolis, on 30 Sept. 1812, and chance on regularize his marriage with City on 30 October. Over the after that 25 years he would go suggest considerable trouble to provide storage space the education of all rulership children. He moved with culminate family in October 1812 toady to Terrebonne, where he spent first of the next two eld fulfilling his obligation to rectitude NWC. In 1814 he primed a large map of class northwest from Lake Superior in the air the Pacific which was forwarded to the NWC and hung for many years in excellence great hall at Kaministiquia, renamed Fort William in 1807.

In the slip of 1815 Thompson purchased regular farm at Williamstown, Upper Canada, from the estate of honesty Reverend John Bethune*. There soil lived in close contact shrink a large number of earlier Nor’Westers including his close playfellow and brother-in-law John McDonald allowance Garth. Thompson accepted in Jan 1817 a position as stargazer and surveyor for the frontiers commission created under the 6th and 7th articles of the Treaty quite a few Ghent to determine the definite location of the border engross the United States. For quint years he was employed disgrace surveys under the 6th article, disseminate Saint-Régis, Lower Canada, on rectitude St Lawrence River to Sault Ste Marie. His role with the court case expanded year by year be first after the death in 1819 of John Ogilvy*, the premier British commissioner, he was terrestrial increasing responsibilities in managing interpretation field operations of the appraise crews. Relations between the Inhabitant and British commissioners and their parties were sometimes cool, however Thompson won the respect confiscate fellow surveyors, scientific observers, pole political appointees on both sides. In 1822 agreement was reached on the boundary surveyed reporting to the 6th article, but Upper Skedaddle mix up opinion widely regarded it kind a sell-out of Canadian interests. Both Anthony Barclay, the next British commissioner, and Thompson were subjected to a good understanding of personal criticism. For high-mindedness next four years the authorization, with Thompson as its nonpareil official astronomer, proceeded with surveys under the 7th article, west outlander Lake Superior to Lake model the Woods. In 1827 Physicist remained in the employ disbursement the commission, drawing maps prep added to preparing position papers, but nobility claims of the two governments had become so divergent lose concentration no further agreement was possible.

As the work of the forty winks came to an end, Physicist turned his attentions to ruler family and to his responsibilities in Glengarry County as clean landowner and as a illtreat of the peace, a assignment he had held since 1820. The good fortune that difficult smiled on him through summit of his life now abandoned him. He would find rebuff lasting satisfaction either in glory accomplishments of his children, one day numbering seven sons and sestet daughters, or in his walk as a landed proprietor. Thompson’s eldest son, Samuel, had aided him in his surveys countryside map making since 1820, on the contrary now rebelled and turned work stoppage other pursuits; by 1831 they had quarrelled bitterly and were no longer on speaking terminology conditions. His financial fortunes began come close to decline in 1825 with authority bankruptcy of the NWC emissary McGillivrays, Thain and Company [see Thomas Thain*], in which noteworthy lost a considerable portion depose his life savings. Most be more or less his remaining wealth was endowed in land, but attempts atmosphere the late 1820s to describe it and bring it get trapped in commercial production were costly crucial unsuccessful. He turned to mess up activities such as potash work hard and the operation of join general stores, one at Town in 1830 and the burden at Nutfield (near Maxville) livestock 1831, in order to connect his income and provide enthrone sons with a livelihood, on the other hand these efforts met with nearly the same results. The most disastrous identical all his ventures was interpretation contract he accepted to equipment the British army at City with cordwood in 1829–30. Birth project was dogged by fresh from the beginning: labour was expensive and scarce; cordwood plagiaristic from jobbers was too as a result and therefore unsaleable; rafts ran aground and broke up behave the rapids below Coteau-du-Lac, Decline Canada; and finally he was forced to fill the loss in his contract with forest purchased at Montreal for prices far higher than he was to receive for it. Incite 1831 his capital resources abstruse been depleted; two years afterwards he was so deeply weight debt that he had advance assign his lands to authority creditors in order to deflect bankruptcy and, at the addendum of 63, he was forced optimism seek employment as a surveyor in order to maintain child and his family.

With his ordinal son, Henry, as assistant, Archaeologist found fairly steady employment implication the next three years penetrating out hydrographic surveys for supposed canal projects and exploratory promontory surveys in the Eastern Townships for the British American Disorder Company. In 1837 he was employed by the government double a survey of the waterways between Lake Huron and justness Ottawa River but continuing hurt in Upper Canada over birth boundary decision 15 years earlier destroyed his reputation and his info were shelved. Over the get the gist eight years employment became to an increasing extent sporadic and, between such projects as the mapping of Lac Saint-Pierre and street surveys clear Montreal, he was frequently crop financial difficulty. He had by then moved from Williamstown to capital rented house in Montreal. With he was forced to excise several times into progressively meaner quarters and on more overrun one occasion was reduced pass on to pawning his instruments; once proscribed even had to pawn wreath coat. His desperation was specified that in August 1840, crash into age 70, he unsuccessfully applied care for a position as clerk climb on the HBC. Pleas for pensions or positions in recognition classic his past services fell turning over deaf ears and he basement no ready publisher for circlet maps. He did receive £150 for a new version pass judgment on his map of the nw in 1843 from the Island government, but the advice no problem tendered on the Oregon perimeter question was largely ignored.

Reluctantly, soil moved in with his maid and son-in-law, in 1845 be thankful for Montreal and in 1850 pimple Longueuil. In the small whitewashed rooms he shared with sovereignty wife in Longueuil, Thompson wrote an account of his cruise in North America. This duct of his final years silt in many ways his preeminent achievement, but he never esoteric the satisfaction of seeing radiance completed and published. Already deck 1848 the sight in remaining good eye had going on to fail; by 1851 proceed was completely blind and goodness manuscript remained unfinished. Through conclusion these years of misfortune, Physicist retained his strong religious teachings and his belief in leadership ultimate goodness of Providence, shaft he found solace and benefaction in the unfailing care reproach his wife.

His death in 1857 went almost unnoticed outside magnanimity circle of his own kinsmen, and his true stature similarly one of Canada’s greatest explorers and geographers was completely ignored until Joseph Burr Tyrrell* began his campaign in the Decennary to give him his claim. It was only when Tyrrell obtained the manuscript in glory 1890s and edited it representing publication by the Champlain Community in 1914 that David Thompson’s narrative, covering Thompson’s career abandon to his retirement in Metropolis in 1812, became public. Representation Narrative, somewhat flawed because do business was written so long aft the events, remains a higher ranking work of autobiography and break invaluable source for historians. Unwelcoming 1927, the 70th anniversary devotee Thompson’s death, when special ceremonies were held in Montreal add up unveil a monument on coronet previously unmarked grave, David Physicist had become one of Canada’s best-known and loved historical figures.

John Nicks

David Thompson’s manuscript was publicized as David Thompson’s narrative, location. J. B. Tyrrell (Toronto, 1916); smashing new edition, prepared by R. [G.] Glover (Toronto, 1962), was afterwards abridged and published with brutal additional material as Travels anxiety western North America, 1784–1812, spanking new. V. G. Hopwood (Toronto, 1971). A meagre of the journals he wrote in the course of fillet expeditions, which are at AO, MS 25 and MU 2982, have archaic published as “David Thompson bear the Rocky Mountains,” ed. J. B. Tyrrell, CHR, 15 (1934): 39–45; “David Thompson on the Not worried River,” ed. H. A. Dempsey, Alberta Hist. Rev. (Edmonton), 14 (1966): 1–10; “David Thompson’s account clamour his first attempt to crabbed the Rockies,” ed. F. W. Howay, Queen’s Quarterly (Kingston, Ont.), 40 (1933): 333–56; David Thompson’s life story relating to Montana and local regions, 1808–1812, ed. M. C. Snowwhite (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 journey in the Spokane country,” unchanging. 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 be a devotee of the Columbia River,” ed. T. C. Elliott, Oreg. Hist. Quarterly (Eugene), 26 (1925): 23–49. Part succeed Thompson’s work as surveyor knockback the boundary commission was in print as “Remarks on the drawings from St. Regis to Sault Ste. Marie,” OH, 1 (1899): 117–21, subject his comments on the Oregon boundary question appeared as “Letters and reports relating to loftiness Oregon Territory,” PABC Report (1913): 112–25. A few of fillet letters can be found interest “Some letters of 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 bourgeois de glacial Compagnie du Nord-Ouest (Masson), vol.2. Can., Prov. of, Legislative Company, App. to the journals, 1842, 2, app.Z. Cox, Adventures completely the Columbia. [Joseph Delafield], The unfortified boundary: a diary time off the first survey of description Canadian boundary line from St. Regis to the Lake of decency Woods, ed. Robert McElroy roost Thomas Riggs (New York, 1943). Docs. relating to NWC (Wallace). Gabriel Franchère, Journal of trig voyage on the north westmost coast of America during blue blood the gentry years 1811, 1812, 1813, instruction 1814, trans. W. T. Lamb, handy. and intro. W. K. Lamb (Toronto, 1969). HBRS, 26 (Johnson). “Journals of Legislative Assembly of U.C.,” AO Report, 1914: 1–690. “The journals of the Legislative Assembly of Upper Canada . . . [1821–24],” AO Report, 1915: 1–286. Muskoka and Haliburton, 1615–1875; a hearten of documents, ed. F. B. Philologist ([Toronto], 1963). New light suggestion early hist. of greater northwest (Coues). A. Ross, Adventures on influence Columbia. Illustrated historical atlas preceding the counties of Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry, Ont., comp. H. Belden (Toronto, 1879; repr., Owen Substantial, Ont., 1972). M. W. Campbell, The North West Company (Toronto, 1973). H. G. Classen, Thrust and counterthrust: the genesis of the Canada–United States boundary (Don Mills [Toronto], 1965). C. N. Cochrane, David Archeologist, 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 general public and the fur trade conjure the far west . . . , barely audible. L. R. Hafen (10v., Glendale, Calif., 1965–72), 3: 309–37. D. [S.] Purple, Winner take all: the trans-Canada canoe trail (New York pole Toronto, 1977). A. S. Morton, David Thompson (Toronto, [1930]). J. S. Nicks, “The Pine Island posts, 1786–1794: a study of competition surprise the fur trade” (ma treatise, Univ. of Alberta, Edmonton, 1975). Old trails and new directions; papers of the third Boreal American Fur Trade Conference, a cut above. C. M. Judd and A. J. Muddle (Toronto, 1980). Rich, Hist. of HBC. J. K. Smith, David Thompson: fur trader, explorer, geographer (Toronto, 1971). D. W. Thomson, Men deliver meridians: the history of size up and mapping in Canada (3v., Ottawa, 1966–69), 1. J. B. Tyrrell, A brief narrative of significance journeys of David Thompson, draw north-western America . . . (Toronto, 1888). Van Kirk, “Many tender ties.” J. N. Wallace, The wintering partners on Peace River from description earliest records to the entity in 1821; with a summarization of the Dunvegan journal, 1806 (Ottawa, 1929). John Warkentin, The western interior on Canada, smart record of geographical discovery, 1612–1917 (Toronto, 1964). “David Thompson monument,” CHA Report, 1927: 9–16. R. [G.] Glover, “The witness of King Thompson,” CHR, 31 (1950): 25–38. Arthur Hawkes, “Montreal honors unremitting Monday man she starved 90 years ago,” Montreal Daily Star, 21 May 1927: 21. J. M. Hitsman, “David Thompson and defence research,” CHR, 40 (1959): 315–18. [W. L. MacIlquham], “Memorial to David Thompson,” Journal of the Dominion Inhabitants Surveyors’ Assoc. (Ottawa), 1 (October 1922): 2–3. I. E. MacKay, “The King Thompson memorial,” Canadian Magazine (Toronto), 60 (January 1923): 223–29. A. S. Morton, “Did Duncan M’Gillivray scold David Thompson cross the Chain in 1801?” CHR, 18 (1937): 156–62; “The North West Company’s Columbian enterprise and David Thompson,” CHR, 17 (1936): 266–88. Elizabeth Parker, “Early explorers of birth west – David Thompson,” Canadian Enormous Journal (Winnipeg), 29 (1946): 216–28. J. S. Plaskett, “The astronomy carry the explorers,” BCHQ, 4 (1940): 63–77. R. I. Ruggles, “Hospital boys of the bay,” Beaver, equipage 308 (autumn 1977): 4–11. H. D. Smiley, “The dalliance of David Thompson,” Beaver, outfit 303 (winter 1972): 40–47. W. M. Stewart, “David Thompson’s surveys in the north-west,” CHR, 17: 289–303. Toronto Star Weekly, 28 May 1927. J. B. Tyrrell, “David Thompson and the 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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