Angus Bethune (fur trader)
Encyclopedia
Angus Bethune was the oldest son of the Reverend John Bethune. He had several distinguished brothers, Alexander Neil
, who became Anglican bishop of Toronto; John
, Anglican clergyman, dean of the diocese of Montreal and principal of McGill University; James Gray
prominent Upper Canada businessman; Donald
, an important political figure in Upper Canada.
At the time of his birth his father was stationed with the 1st battalion of the Royal Highland Emigrants on Carleton Island, New York
, where Lake Ontario empties into the St. Lawrence River. Later, after the Treaty of Paris was signed ending the American Revolutionary War the family briefly resided at Fort Oswegatchie (Ogdensburg, N.Y.) before moving to Montreal when Angus was still a very young child. By 1787 his father had moved once again to Glengarry County in what later became Upper Canada.
Angus joined the North West Company
at an early age. In 1804 he was posted to Whitemud River at the southern tip of Lake Manitoba.
By 1810, he was working with Alexander Henry (the younger)
and they travelled to Rocky Mountain House (Alta). There he met David Thompson
and assisted Thompson with preparations for his trek through the Rocky Mountains. Thompson was attempting to reach the mouth of the Columbia River
and establish the North West Company there ahead of their rival, the Pacific Fur Company
. Bethune was to be the NWC person in charge of learning the "China" trade.
In the fall of 1813, he witnessed the NWC's purchase of Fort Astoria
from the PFC. By 1814 he was a partner in the company and was travelling to China. Bethune also became an important figure with the Hudson's Bay Company
after the amalgamation. He served as a chief factor in a number of locations. After retirement, he became a director of the Bank of Upper Canada
.
Angus was part of a prominent family which included four bothers of note. Alexander Neil
, became bishop of the diocese of Toronto, James Gray
was a businessman, Donald
was an important political figure in Upper Canada and John
was an Anglican clergyman and acting principal of McGill University. He had six children by his marriage, one of whom, Norman
, went on to have a medical career worthy of note.
Bethune died in Toronto
in 1858.
Alexander Neil Bethune
Alexander Neil Bethune was a Church of England clergyman and bishop and the son of the Reverend John Bethune. He and his wife had ten children. They included Robert Henry Bethune, a noted banker with the Dominion Bank. He was a brother to John, also a clergyman, who was acting principal of McGill...
, who became Anglican bishop of Toronto; John
John Bethune
John Bethune was a Canadian Anglican clergyman and acting principal of McGill University from 1835 to 1846.-Biography:...
, Anglican clergyman, dean of the diocese of Montreal and principal of McGill University; James Gray
James Gray Bethune
James Gray Bethune was born in Upper Canada. He was the son of an Anglican priest, the Reverend John Bethune....
prominent Upper Canada businessman; Donald
Donald Bethune
Donald Bethune was a lawyer, judge, entrepreneur and political figure in Upper Canada.He was born in Williamstown in Upper Canada in 1802, the son of Reverend John Bethune. Donald was part of a prominent family which included four bothers of note...
, an important political figure in Upper Canada.
At the time of his birth his father was stationed with the 1st battalion of the Royal Highland Emigrants on Carleton Island, New York
Carleton Island
Carleton Island is located in the St Lawrence River in upstate New York. It was the location of Fort Haldimand, controlled by the British during the American Revolution, and of great strategic importance, as well as being a center of shipbuilding. The ruins of the fort can still be seen at the...
, where Lake Ontario empties into the St. Lawrence River. Later, after the Treaty of Paris was signed ending the American Revolutionary War the family briefly resided at Fort Oswegatchie (Ogdensburg, N.Y.) before moving to Montreal when Angus was still a very young child. By 1787 his father had moved once again to Glengarry County in what later became Upper Canada.
Angus joined the North West Company
North West Company
The North West Company was a fur trading business headquartered in Montreal from 1779 to 1821. It competed with increasing success against the Hudson's Bay Company in what was to become Western Canada...
at an early age. In 1804 he was posted to Whitemud River at the southern tip of Lake Manitoba.
By 1810, he was working with Alexander Henry (the younger)
Alexander Henry (the younger)
Alexander Henry was a Canadian fur trader and explorer employed by the North West Company. He is well known for his extensive journals which he started in 1799. They contain an excellent record from the early 19th century of the fur trade. Alexander travelled and traded extensively from Lake...
and they travelled to Rocky Mountain House (Alta). There he met David Thompson
David Thompson (explorer)
David Thompson was an English-Canadian fur trader, surveyor, and map-maker, known to some native peoples as "Koo-Koo-Sint" or "the Stargazer"...
and assisted Thompson with preparations for his trek through the Rocky Mountains. Thompson was attempting to reach the mouth of the Columbia River
Columbia River
The Columbia River is the largest river in the Pacific Northwest region of North America. The river rises in the Rocky Mountains of British Columbia, Canada, flows northwest and then south into the U.S. state of Washington, then turns west to form most of the border between Washington and the state...
and establish the North West Company there ahead of their rival, the Pacific Fur Company
Pacific Fur Company
The Pacific Fur Company was founded June 23, 1810, in New York City. Half of the stock of the company was held by the American Fur Company, owned exclusively by John Jacob Astor, and Astor provided all of the capital for the enterprise. The other half of the stock was ascribed to working partners...
. Bethune was to be the NWC person in charge of learning the "China" trade.
In the fall of 1813, he witnessed the NWC's purchase of Fort Astoria
Fort Astoria
Fort Astoria was the Pacific Fur Company's primary fur trading post in the Northwest, and was the first American-owned settlement on the Pacific coast. After a short two-year term of US ownership, the British owned and operated it for 33 years. It was the first British port on the Pacific coast...
from the PFC. By 1814 he was a partner in the company and was travelling to China. Bethune also became an important figure with the Hudson's Bay Company
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...
after the amalgamation. He served as a chief factor in a number of locations. After retirement, he became a director of the Bank of Upper Canada
Bank of Upper Canada
The Bank of Upper Canada was a Canadian bank established in 1821 under a Charter granted by the colony of Upper Canada in 1819. The incorporators were William Allan, Robert C. Horne, John Scarlett, Francis Jackson, William W. Baldwin, Alexander Legge, Thomas Ridout, his son Samuel Ridout, D’Arcy...
.
Angus was part of a prominent family which included four bothers of note. Alexander Neil
Alexander Neil Bethune
Alexander Neil Bethune was a Church of England clergyman and bishop and the son of the Reverend John Bethune. He and his wife had ten children. They included Robert Henry Bethune, a noted banker with the Dominion Bank. He was a brother to John, also a clergyman, who was acting principal of McGill...
, became bishop of the diocese of Toronto, James Gray
James Gray Bethune
James Gray Bethune was born in Upper Canada. He was the son of an Anglican priest, the Reverend John Bethune....
was a businessman, Donald
Donald Bethune
Donald Bethune was a lawyer, judge, entrepreneur and political figure in Upper Canada.He was born in Williamstown in Upper Canada in 1802, the son of Reverend John Bethune. Donald was part of a prominent family which included four bothers of note...
was an important political figure in Upper Canada and John
John Bethune
John Bethune was a Canadian Anglican clergyman and acting principal of McGill University from 1835 to 1846.-Biography:...
was an Anglican clergyman and acting principal of McGill University. He had six children by his marriage, one of whom, Norman
Norman Bethune, Sr.
Norman Bethune was the son of Angus Bethune who was a fur trader. Norman was born in Moose Factory, Ontario. Because of his father's family connections, such as his brother, Donald Bethune, the family moved to Toronto in 1840 where Norman was enrolled in Upper Canada College...
, went on to have a medical career worthy of note.
Bethune died in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
in 1858.