1800's - Trade and Expansion
The 1800's in British Columbia were notable for trade and expansion. In this era, British Columbia went from being a trading outpost to a newly formed province of Canada. The Northwest Company and Hudson's Bay Company established a number of trading posts and forts throughout British Columbia, including Fort St. John, Fort George and Fort Langley. The two companies eventually merged. James Douglas, of Scottish and Guyanese origins, became British Columbia's first colonial Governor.
- In 1803, Maquinna, chief of the Nuu-chah-nulth people of Nootka Sound, led an attack on the American trading vessel, the Boston.
- In 1808, Simon Fraser began an expedition of the present day Fraser River.
- In 1821, the North West Company and Hudson's Bay Company merged, creating three new trading regions, New Caledonia, Thompson River Watershed and Columbia District.
- In 1846, the British relinquished any claim to territory south of the 49th parallel in signing the Oregon Treaty.
- In 1847, the discovery of gold on the Fraser River attracted over 30,000 miners and dreamers, marking the start of the Gold Rush.
- In 1858, James Douglas became Governor of the newly formed colony of British Columbia.
- In 1871, British Columbia became the sixth province to enter the Confederation of Canada.
- In 1885, Canadian Pacific completed the transcontinental railway from Montreal to Port Moody.
Useful Websites
Digital Library Resources
Recommended Titles
Northwest History Index
This card index in Special Collection provides access to the Northwest History Collection, a heritage collection covering the early history and exploration of British Columbia and the Pacific Northwest.
The collection includes:
- magazine and newspaper articles
- pamphlets
- books
- chapters in books
- many other resources
As of August 1998, no new material has been added to the Northwest History Index. It is continued by the British Columbia Index.