John Bell (explorer)
Encyclopedia
John Bell was a Hudson's Bay Company
governor and explorer.
In 1839, he was sent to explore the land west of the Mackenzie River
. With the assistance of Alexander Kennedy Isbister
, he established Fort McPherson
, Northwest Territories
on the Peel River
not far from the Mackenzie, and explored the Peel into what is now the Yukon Territory.
In 1845, he crossed the mountains into the Yukon River
watershed, and went down the Rat River to its confluence with the Porcupine River
. The Rat River has been renamed the Bell River in his honour. After managing the fur trade at Fort McPherson until 1845, he returned to the Bell River, and Followed the Porcupine to its juncture with the Yukon River
, the eventual site of Fort Yukon
. He set the stage for the Yukon trade which proved extremely lucrative for the Hudson's Bay Company and for Canada
's claim over what is now the Yukon Territory.
He had some involvement in organizing James Clark Ross
's 1848–1849 expedition to search for Sir John Franklin
, and continued working in the Mackenzie District for the Hudson's Bay Company until 1860. After retiring from the company, he farmed in Saugeen, Ontario
until his death.
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...
governor and explorer.
In 1839, he was sent to explore the land west of the Mackenzie River
Mackenzie River
The Mackenzie River is the largest river system in Canada. It flows through a vast, isolated region of forest and tundra entirely within the country's Northwest Territories, although its many tributaries reach into four other Canadian provinces and territories...
. With the assistance of Alexander Kennedy Isbister
Alexander Kennedy Isbister
Alexander Kennedy Isbister was born at Cumberland House in what is now Saskatchewan. He was an HBC employee in his early career and later was an educator and a lawyer....
, he established Fort McPherson
Fort McPherson, Northwest Territories
Fort McPherson is a hamlet located in the Inuvik Region of the Northwest Territories, Canada. It is located on the east bank of the Peel River and is south of Inuvik on the Dempster Highway....
, Northwest Territories
Northwest Territories
The Northwest Territories is a federal territory of Canada.Located in northern Canada, the territory borders Canada's two other territories, Yukon to the west and Nunavut to the east, and three provinces: British Columbia to the southwest, and Alberta and Saskatchewan to the south...
on the Peel River
Peel River (Canada)
The Peel River is a tributary of the Mackenzie River in the Yukon and Northwest Territories in Canada. Its source is in the Ogilvie Mountains in the central Yukon at the confluence of the Ogilvie River and Blackstone River...
not far from the Mackenzie, and explored the Peel into what is now the Yukon Territory.
In 1845, he crossed the mountains into the Yukon River
Yukon River
The Yukon River is a major watercourse of northwestern North America. The source of the river is located in British Columbia, Canada. The next portion lies in, and gives its name to Yukon Territory. The lower half of the river lies in the U.S. state of Alaska. The river is long and empties into...
watershed, and went down the Rat River to its confluence with the Porcupine River
Porcupine River
The Porcupine River is a river that runs through Alaska and the Yukon. Having its source in the Ogilvie Mountains north of Dawson City, Yukon, it flows north, veers to the southwest, goes through the community of Old Crow, Yukon, flowing into the Yukon River at Fort Yukon, Alaska...
. The Rat River has been renamed the Bell River in his honour. After managing the fur trade at Fort McPherson until 1845, he returned to the Bell River, and Followed the Porcupine to its juncture with the Yukon River
Yukon River
The Yukon River is a major watercourse of northwestern North America. The source of the river is located in British Columbia, Canada. The next portion lies in, and gives its name to Yukon Territory. The lower half of the river lies in the U.S. state of Alaska. The river is long and empties into...
, the eventual site of Fort Yukon
Fort Yukon, Alaska
As of the census of 2000, there were 595 people, 225 households, and 137 families residing in the city. The population density was 85.0 people per square mile . There were 317 housing units at an average density of 45.3 per square mile...
. He set the stage for the Yukon trade which proved extremely lucrative for the Hudson's Bay Company and for Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
's claim over what is now the Yukon Territory.
He had some involvement in organizing James Clark Ross
James Clark Ross
Sir James Clark Ross , was a British naval officer and explorer. He explored the Arctic with his uncle Sir John Ross and Sir William Parry, and later led his own expedition to Antarctica.-Arctic explorer:...
's 1848–1849 expedition to search for Sir John Franklin
John Franklin
Rear-Admiral Sir John Franklin KCH FRGS RN was a British Royal Navy officer and Arctic explorer. Franklin also served as governor of Tasmania for several years. In his last expedition, he disappeared while attempting to chart and navigate a section of the Northwest Passage in the Canadian Arctic...
, and continued working in the Mackenzie District for the Hudson's Bay Company until 1860. After retiring from the company, he farmed in Saugeen, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
until his death.