Donald McLean (fur trader)
Encyclopedia
Donald McLean was a Scottish fur trader and explorer for the Hudson's Bay Company and who later became a cattle rancher near Cache Creek
in British Columbia
's Thompson Country
. McLean was the last casualty of the Chilcotin War
of 1864. He was the father of outlaw and renegade Allan McLean
, leader of the McLean gang.
McLean was born in 1805 in Tobermory, Isle of Mull
, Scotland
. He joined the Hudson's Bay Company in 1833 as an apprentice clerk in the company's Western Department. In 1835 he accompanied expeditions to the Snake River
country west of the Rockies
led by Thomas McKay
and John McLeod. He was assigned to Fort Colville
, under Chief Trader Archibald McDonald
in 1839, and in 1840 was transferred to Flathead Post
. Two years later, he was sent to the New Caledonia Fur District
in now north-central British Columbia, and was at times in charge of Forts Chilcotin
, Babine
, and McLeod. He also worked at Fort Alexandria under Donald Manson.
McLean was appointed a chief trader in 1853, taking charge of Thompson's River Post (today's Kamloops) in 1855 and expanding its cattle and horse herds and managing relations with the indigenous population. He gained a reputation both for fairness and severity. During McLean's rule, the first gold were brought into the fort by local Indian. The news which was carefully guarded, but eventually touched off the Fraser River Gold Rush.
McLean was known as "Samadlin" to his Indian customers and friends, which was a corruption of Sieur McLean, how his French-Canadian employees addressed him.. McLean's brutal practices - he was an adherent of an informal company policy known as the "Club Law" - and numerous insubordinations led to his recall to regional headquarters in Victoria
in 1860. He reisgned in 1861.
During his tenure at Thompson's River Post, Mclean had established a ranch in the hills
northwest of Cache Creek
. He now moved there with his family, ranching, prospecting, and running a roadhouse on Cariboo Road
.
During the Chilcotin War
of 1864, McLean assisted in hunting for the Chilcotin leader Klattasine
. Chafing at being under the command of Cox
, McLean set out on his own from the expedition's encampment near Puntzi Lake
to track Klattasine through the country around Chilko
and Taseko Lakes.
By chance, Klattasine came on him from behind and fired a shot, killing McLean on July 17, 1864. McLean had boasted to theIndians of his invulnerability. When his body was found it was discovered that McLean wore a cast-iron frying pan beneath his shirt. However, this did not protected him from a shot in the back.
at McLean's ranch near Cache Creek are now named for him; so is Mount Mclean, the highest summit on Mission Ridge
on the north side of Seton Lake
just west of Lillooet
.
In the decade after his death, McLean's son by his Indian wife Sophia, Allan McLean
, went on a rampage with his brothers Charley and Archie and a friend named Alex Hare. They killed constable and gold commissioner John Tannatt Ussher
whilst resisting arrest. The McLeans were captured and brought to the British Columbia Penitentiary for trial by Chief Justice Matthew Baillie Begbie
(who had also tried Klattasine). They were convicted and were hung for murder in 1881.
Among McLean's many descendants, Mel Rothenburger, former mayor of Kamloops, is a writer in BC history, including a book on The Chilcotin War.
Cache Creek, British Columbia
Cache Creek is a junction community northeast of Vancouver in British Columbia, Canada. It is on the Trans-Canada Highway in the province of British Columbia at its junction with northbound Highway 97...
in British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
's Thompson Country
Thompson Country
The Thompson Country, also referred to as The Thompson and in some ways as the Thompson Valley and historically known as the Couteau Country or Couteau District, is a historic geographic region of the Southern Interior of British Columbia, based around the basin of the Thompson River, a tributary...
. McLean was the last casualty of the Chilcotin War
Chilcotin War
The Chilcotin War, Chilcotin Uprising or Bute Inlet Massacre was a confrontation in 1864 between members of the Tsilhqot'in people in British Columbia and white road construction workers...
of 1864. He was the father of outlaw and renegade Allan McLean
Allan McLean (outlaw)
Allan McLean was a Canadian outlaw, born in Kamloops, British Columbia .His father Donald McLean, a Hudson's Bay Company chief trader, had taken charge of the company post at Thompson's River in 1855. The previous year he had married Sophia Grant, a Colville Indian...
, leader of the McLean gang.
McLean was born in 1805 in Tobermory, Isle of Mull
Isle of Mull
The Isle of Mull or simply Mull is the second largest island of the Inner Hebrides, off the west coast of Scotland in the council area of Argyll and Bute....
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
. He joined the Hudson's Bay Company in 1833 as an apprentice clerk in the company's Western Department. In 1835 he accompanied expeditions to the Snake River
Snake River
The Snake is a major river of the greater Pacific Northwest in the United States. At long, it is the largest tributary of the Columbia River, the largest North American river that empties into the Pacific Ocean...
country west of the Rockies
Rocky Mountains
The Rocky Mountains are a major mountain range in western North America. The Rocky Mountains stretch more than from the northernmost part of British Columbia, in western Canada, to New Mexico, in the southwestern United States...
led by Thomas McKay
Thomas McKay
Thomas McKay was a Canadian businessman who was one of the founders of the city of Ottawa, Ontario. He was born in Perth, Scotland and became a skilled stonemason...
and John McLeod. He was assigned to Fort Colville
Fort Colville
The trade center Fort Colville was built by the Hudson's Bay Company at Kettle Falls on the Columbia River, a few miles west of the present site of Colville, Washington in 1825, to replace Spokane House as a regional trading center, as the latter was deemed to be too far from the Columbia River...
, under Chief Trader Archibald McDonald
Archibald McDonald
Archibald McDonald was Chief Trader for the Hudson's Bay Company at Fort Langley, Fort Nisqually and Fort Colville and one-time deputy governor of the Red River Settlement.-Early life:...
in 1839, and in 1840 was transferred to Flathead Post
Saleesh House
Saleesh House, also known as Flathead Post, was a North West Company fur trading post built near present-day Thompson Falls, Montana in 1809 by David Thompson and James McMillan of the North West Company. It became a Hudson's Bay Company post after that company absorbed the North West Company....
. Two years later, he was sent to the New Caledonia Fur District
New Caledonia (Canada)
New Caledonia was the name given to a district of the Hudson's Bay Company that comprised the territory largely coterminous with the present-day province of British Columbia, Canada. Though not a British colony, New Caledonia was part of the British claim to North America. Its administrative...
in now north-central British Columbia, and was at times in charge of Forts Chilcotin
Fort Chilcotin
Fort Chilcotin was a short-lived trading post of the Hudson's Bay Company, located at the confluence of the Chilko and Chilcotin Rivers, British Columbia, Canada. It operated between the years 1836 and 1844...
, Babine
Fort Babine
Fort Babine, British Columbia is a small native reserve community, located at the northern tip of Babine Lake, approximately 100 km north of Smithers. It is accessible by an all-weather gravel logging road. There are approximately 60 year-round residents...
, and McLeod. He also worked at Fort Alexandria under Donald Manson.
McLean was appointed a chief trader in 1853, taking charge of Thompson's River Post (today's Kamloops) in 1855 and expanding its cattle and horse herds and managing relations with the indigenous population. He gained a reputation both for fairness and severity. During McLean's rule, the first gold were brought into the fort by local Indian. The news which was carefully guarded, but eventually touched off the Fraser River Gold Rush.
McLean was known as "Samadlin" to his Indian customers and friends, which was a corruption of Sieur McLean, how his French-Canadian employees addressed him.. McLean's brutal practices - he was an adherent of an informal company policy known as the "Club Law" - and numerous insubordinations led to his recall to regional headquarters in Victoria
Victoria, British Columbia
Victoria is the capital city of British Columbia, Canada and is located on the southern tip of Vancouver Island off Canada's Pacific coast. The city has a population of about 78,000 within the metropolitan area of Greater Victoria, which has a population of 360,063, the 15th most populous Canadian...
in 1860. He reisgned in 1861.
During his tenure at Thompson's River Post, Mclean had established a ranch in the hills
Trachyte Hills
The Trachyte Hills are a remote mountain range in southern British Columbia, Canada, located southwest of junction of Bonaparte River and Hat Creek.-References:* in the Canadian Mountain Encyclopedia...
northwest of Cache Creek
Cache Creek, British Columbia
Cache Creek is a junction community northeast of Vancouver in British Columbia, Canada. It is on the Trans-Canada Highway in the province of British Columbia at its junction with northbound Highway 97...
. He now moved there with his family, ranching, prospecting, and running a roadhouse on Cariboo Road
Cariboo Road
The Cariboo Road was a project initiated in 1860 by the colonial Governor of British Columbia, James Douglas...
.
During the Chilcotin War
Chilcotin War
The Chilcotin War, Chilcotin Uprising or Bute Inlet Massacre was a confrontation in 1864 between members of the Tsilhqot'in people in British Columbia and white road construction workers...
of 1864, McLean assisted in hunting for the Chilcotin leader Klattasine
Klattasine
Klattasine was the young chief of the Chilcotin tribe who became famous during the British Columbia gold rush....
. Chafing at being under the command of Cox
William George Cox
William George Cox was Gold Commissioner for the Cariboo and Boundary Districts in the Colony of British Columbia, Canada during the Rock Creek Gold Rush....
, McLean set out on his own from the expedition's encampment near Puntzi Lake
Puntzi Lake
Puntzi Lake is a lake in the Chilcotin District of the Central Interior of British Columbia. It is located on the western side of the upper Chilcotin River to the northeast of Tatla Lake, and is connected to the Chilcotin River via Puntzi Creek, of which it is an expansion...
to track Klattasine through the country around Chilko
Chilko Lake
Chilko Lake is a 180 km² lake in west-central British Columbia, at the head of the Chilko River on the Chilcotin Plateau. The lake is about 65 km long, with a southwest arm 10 km long. It is one of the largest lakes by volume in the province because of its great depth, and the...
and Taseko Lakes.
By chance, Klattasine came on him from behind and fired a shot, killing McLean on July 17, 1864. McLean had boasted to theIndians of his invulnerability. When his body was found it was discovered that McLean wore a cast-iron frying pan beneath his shirt. However, this did not protected him from a shot in the back.
Legacy
The lake, creek and Indian reserveIndian reserve
In Canada, an Indian reserve is specified by the Indian Act as a "tract of land, the legal title to which is vested in Her Majesty, that has been set apart by Her Majesty for the use and benefit of a band." The Act also specifies that land reserved for the use and benefit of a band which is not...
at McLean's ranch near Cache Creek are now named for him; so is Mount Mclean, the highest summit on Mission Ridge
Mission Ridge (British Columbia)
Mission Ridge, also known as Mission Mountain, is a ridge in the Bridge River-Lillooet Country of the South-Central Interior of British Columbia, Canada, extending westward from the town of Lillooet along the north side of Seton Lake to Mission Pass, which is immediately above and to the north of...
on the north side of Seton Lake
Seton Lake
Seton Lake is a freshwater fjord draining east via the Seton River into the Fraser River at the town of Lillooet, British Columbia, about 22 km long and 243 m in elevation and 26.2 square kilometres in area...
just west of Lillooet
Lillooet, British Columbia
Lillooet is a community on the Fraser River in western Canada, about up the British Columbia Railway line from Vancouver. Situated at an intersection of deep gorges in the lee of the Coast Mountains, it has a dry climate- of precipitation is recorded annually at the town's weather station,...
.
In the decade after his death, McLean's son by his Indian wife Sophia, Allan McLean
Allan McLean (outlaw)
Allan McLean was a Canadian outlaw, born in Kamloops, British Columbia .His father Donald McLean, a Hudson's Bay Company chief trader, had taken charge of the company post at Thompson's River in 1855. The previous year he had married Sophia Grant, a Colville Indian...
, went on a rampage with his brothers Charley and Archie and a friend named Alex Hare. They killed constable and gold commissioner John Tannatt Ussher
John Tannatt Ussher
John Tannatt Ussher, usually known as Johnny Ussher, was a settler, provincial magistrate and Gold Commissioner in the Thompson Country of the Southern Interior of British Columbia, Canada in the 1870s. John Tannatt Ussher was the son of Samuel Ussher Esq., a lawyer in Montreal, and Harriet...
whilst resisting arrest. The McLeans were captured and brought to the British Columbia Penitentiary for trial by Chief Justice Matthew Baillie Begbie
Matthew Baillie Begbie
Sir Matthew Baillie Begbie was born on the island of Mauritius, thereafter raised and educated in the United Kingdom...
(who had also tried Klattasine). They were convicted and were hung for murder in 1881.
Among McLean's many descendants, Mel Rothenburger, former mayor of Kamloops, is a writer in BC history, including a book on The Chilcotin War.