Andrew McDermot
Encyclopedia
Andrew McDermot was a Hudson's Bay Company (HBC)
employee who became a prominent independent fur trade merchant and member of the Council of Assiniboia
.
, County Roscommon
, Ireland
in 1790, the eldest son of Miles MacDermot and Catherine (Kitty) O’Connor. He was raised a Roman Catholic and educated at home. In Norway House, he married Sara McNab, mixed-blood daughter of another Hudson's Bay Company employee. He and Sara had 15 living children, nine daughters and six sons. Many of his daughters married prominent gentleman from Winnipeg
's elite. Eldest daughter Marie, born in 1816, married Richard Lane, HBC clerk; Ellen married Thomas Bird; Catherine married Thomas Truthwaite; Mary Sally married William McTavish, Governor of Red River and Assiniboia
; Anne married Andrew Graham Ballenden Bannatyne, who became a partner with Andrew McDermot and became the second wealthiest man in the settlement; Harriet married Alexander Ralph Lillie, an HBC postmaster. Though born Roman Catholic, he was married and buried by the Church of England
. He is buried at St. John's Cathedral, Winnipeg.
and arrived at York Factory on the ship Robert Taylor on August 26, 1812, initially signing on for a three year contract. He was employed as a writer, trader and clerk in various fur trade posts in what is now north-central Manitoba
. He was described as “Sober. Honest. Ready and willing in the discharge of his duty. Obedient & respectful of his superiors. . . . He has a tolerably good knowledge of the Indian language.” In 1821, he was allowed to move south to a post in the Lower Red River Settlement. Unhappy with slow advancement within the HBC, he left the employ of the company when he was permitted to retire in 1824.
, with the blessing of the HBC. The HBC were often unable to provide enough goods for the growing settlement and McDermot was able to import his goods on HBC ships through York Factory. McDermot's friendship with Governor George Simpson
proved to be extremely profitable. He was allowed a special license to trade furs to prevent furs from being traded at the American fur trade post at Pembina, North Dakota
, and was granted many contracts from the HBC. In 1839 he was made a member of the Council of Assiniboia. He was part of a committee on the council which was responsible for the construction of roads and bridges, surveying, the operation of ferries, and public improvements.
However, by the early 1840s, his relationship with the HBC began to weaken. The HBC, in order to curb the growing amount of free trade or illegal trade, denied McDermot a freighting contract with the HBC and by 1845, his goods from England were not being allowed passage on HBC ships. Furious with Governor Christie over these sanctions, he resigned from the Council of Assiniboia. He did rejoin the Council after an agreement was reached and partial reimbursement for his losses was paid.
McDermot and his partner, James Sinclair were two of the main forces behind the Guillaume Sayer
free trade trial of 1849. He also had close ties with American trader Norman Kittson
and used Kittson to import goods from the United States to his store at Fort Garry.
and Assiniboine
Rivers throughout the Red River Settlement and owned a large tract of land in what is now the nucleus of Winnipeg. His land, a river lot, started at the edge of the Hudson's Bay Company land and stretched with ten chains frontage on the Red extending back two miles. McDermot Avenue in Winnipeg marks the north boundary of the property. His home, Emerald Lodge, was said to be the most beautiful and welcoming home at Fort Garry. He donated land for the first Post Office in Winnipeg and with his son in law, A.G.B. Bannatyne, donated land for the Winnipeg General Hospital
.
Hudson's Bay Company
The Hudson's Bay Company , abbreviated HBC, or "The Bay" is the oldest commercial corporation in North America and one of the oldest in the world. A fur trading business for much of its existence, today Hudson's Bay Company owns and operates retail stores throughout Canada...
employee who became a prominent independent fur trade merchant and member of the Council of Assiniboia
Council of Assiniboia
The Council of Assiniboia was, from 1821 until 1870, the appointed administrative body of Rupert's Land.-History:This Council was created by the Hudson's Bay Company to govern the territory following its merger with the North West Company, and the death of Lord Selkirk...
.
McDermot's background and family relations
McDermot was born in Bellangare House, CastlereaCastlerea
Castlerea is located in the west of County Roscommon, Ireland. It is the second largest town in the county with a population of 3,055 . Roughly translated from Irish, Castlerea can mean Brindled Castle or King's Castle...
, County Roscommon
County Roscommon
County Roscommon is a county in Ireland. It is located in the West Region and is also part of the province of Connacht. It is named after the town of Roscommon. Roscommon County Council is the local authority for the county...
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
in 1790, the eldest son of Miles MacDermot and Catherine (Kitty) O’Connor. He was raised a Roman Catholic and educated at home. In Norway House, he married Sara McNab, mixed-blood daughter of another Hudson's Bay Company employee. He and Sara had 15 living children, nine daughters and six sons. Many of his daughters married prominent gentleman from Winnipeg
Winnipeg
Winnipeg is the capital and largest city of Manitoba, Canada, and is the primary municipality of the Winnipeg Capital Region, with more than half of Manitoba's population. It is located near the longitudinal centre of North America, at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers .The name...
's elite. Eldest daughter Marie, born in 1816, married Richard Lane, HBC clerk; Ellen married Thomas Bird; Catherine married Thomas Truthwaite; Mary Sally married William McTavish, Governor of Red River and Assiniboia
Assiniboia
Assiniboia refers to a number of different locations and administrative jurisdictions in Canada. The name is taken from the Assiniboine First Nation.- District of Assiniboia:...
; Anne married Andrew Graham Ballenden Bannatyne, who became a partner with Andrew McDermot and became the second wealthiest man in the settlement; Harriet married Alexander Ralph Lillie, an HBC postmaster. Though born Roman Catholic, he was married and buried by the Church of England
Church of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
. He is buried at St. John's Cathedral, Winnipeg.
HBC career
With few opportunities in Ireland, he engaged with the Hudson's Bay Company in SligoSligo
Sligo is the county town of County Sligo in Ireland. The town is a borough and has a charter and a town mayor. It is sometimes referred to as a city, and sometimes as a town, and is the second largest urban area in Connacht...
and arrived at York Factory on the ship Robert Taylor on August 26, 1812, initially signing on for a three year contract. He was employed as a writer, trader and clerk in various fur trade posts in what is now north-central Manitoba
Manitoba
Manitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other...
. He was described as “Sober. Honest. Ready and willing in the discharge of his duty. Obedient & respectful of his superiors. . . . He has a tolerably good knowledge of the Indian language.” In 1821, he was allowed to move south to a post in the Lower Red River Settlement. Unhappy with slow advancement within the HBC, he left the employ of the company when he was permitted to retire in 1824.
His store and relations with the HBC
After leaving the HBC, he started an independent store at Fort GarryFort Garry
Fort Garry, also known as Upper Fort Garry, was a Hudson's Bay Company trading post at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine rivers in what is now downtown Winnipeg. It was established in 1822 on or near the site of the North West Company's Fort Gibraltar. Fort Garry was named after Nicholas...
, with the blessing of the HBC. The HBC were often unable to provide enough goods for the growing settlement and McDermot was able to import his goods on HBC ships through York Factory. McDermot's friendship with Governor George Simpson
George Simpson (administrator)
Sir George Simpson was a Scots-Quebecer and employee of the Hudson's Bay Company . His title was Governor-in-Chief of Rupert's Land and administrator over the Northwest Territories and Columbia Department in British North America from 1821 to 1860.-Early years:George Simpson was born in Dingwall,...
proved to be extremely profitable. He was allowed a special license to trade furs to prevent furs from being traded at the American fur trade post at Pembina, North Dakota
Pembina, North Dakota
Pembina is a city in Pembina County, North Dakota in the United States. The population was 592 at the 2010 census.The area of Pembina was long inhabited by various indigenous peoples...
, and was granted many contracts from the HBC. In 1839 he was made a member of the Council of Assiniboia. He was part of a committee on the council which was responsible for the construction of roads and bridges, surveying, the operation of ferries, and public improvements.
However, by the early 1840s, his relationship with the HBC began to weaken. The HBC, in order to curb the growing amount of free trade or illegal trade, denied McDermot a freighting contract with the HBC and by 1845, his goods from England were not being allowed passage on HBC ships. Furious with Governor Christie over these sanctions, he resigned from the Council of Assiniboia. He did rejoin the Council after an agreement was reached and partial reimbursement for his losses was paid.
McDermot and his partner, James Sinclair were two of the main forces behind the Guillaume Sayer
Guillaume Sayer
Pierre Guillaume Sayer was a Métis fur trader whose trial was a turning point in the ending of the Hudson's Bay Company's monopoly of the fur trade in North America....
free trade trial of 1849. He also had close ties with American trader Norman Kittson
Norman Kittson
Norman Wolfred Kittson was variously a fur trader, steamboat-line operator, and railway entrepreneur.-Fur trader:...
and used Kittson to import goods from the United States to his store at Fort Garry.
His legacy
By the 1850s, Andrew McDermot was known as the "Richest Man in the Red River Settlement". He had a successful store, several water and grist mills dotting the RedRed River of the North
The Red River is a North American river. Originating at the confluence of the Bois de Sioux and Otter Tail rivers in the United States, it flows northward through the Red River Valley and forms the border between the U.S. states of Minnesota and North Dakota before continuing into Manitoba, Canada...
and Assiniboine
Assiniboine River
The Assiniboine River is a river that runs through the prairies of Western Canada in Saskatchewan and Manitoba. It is a tributary of the Red River. The Assiniboine is a typical meandering river with a single main channel embanked within a flat, shallow valley in some places and a steep valley in...
Rivers throughout the Red River Settlement and owned a large tract of land in what is now the nucleus of Winnipeg. His land, a river lot, started at the edge of the Hudson's Bay Company land and stretched with ten chains frontage on the Red extending back two miles. McDermot Avenue in Winnipeg marks the north boundary of the property. His home, Emerald Lodge, was said to be the most beautiful and welcoming home at Fort Garry. He donated land for the first Post Office in Winnipeg and with his son in law, A.G.B. Bannatyne, donated land for the Winnipeg General Hospital
Winnipeg General Hospital
Winnipeg General Hospital was founded in 1872 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. It was built on the estate of Andrew McDermot. The driving force behind the hospital was McDermott's son-in-law Andrew Bannatyne....
.