Richard Dobie
Encyclopedia
Richard Dobie was a merchant from Scotland who came to Canada about 1760 and by 1764 was actively involved in the fur trade
around Lake Superior
and the other Great Lakes. Much of their trade was to the south of these lakes which was a well established trade zone.
In 1767 Dobie went into partnership with Benjamin Frobisher
, who travelled to the trading posts and wintered there, while Dobie remained in Montreal. They mounted at least one attempt at the northwest fur trade in partnership but most of Dobies trade efforts continued with various partners, one of whom was Francis Badgley
, in the Great Lakes area.
Although heavily involved in the fur trade, Dobie was also active in any number of non fur trade enterprises. He accumulated a large fortune in these endeavors and was an important member of the Montreal community.
Fur trade
The fur trade is a worldwide industry dealing in the acquisition and sale of animal fur. Since the establishment of world market for in the early modern period furs of boreal, polar and cold temperate mammalian animals have been the most valued...
around Lake Superior
Lake Superior
Lake Superior is the largest of the five traditionally-demarcated Great Lakes of North America. It is bounded to the north by the Canadian province of Ontario and the U.S. state of Minnesota, and to the south by the U.S. states of Wisconsin and Michigan. It is the largest freshwater lake in the...
and the other Great Lakes. Much of their trade was to the south of these lakes which was a well established trade zone.
In 1767 Dobie went into partnership with Benjamin Frobisher
Benjamin Frobisher
Benjamin Frobisher was born in England, the son of Joseph Frobisher and Rachel Hargrave and immigrated to Canada about 1763...
, who travelled to the trading posts and wintered there, while Dobie remained in Montreal. They mounted at least one attempt at the northwest fur trade in partnership but most of Dobies trade efforts continued with various partners, one of whom was Francis Badgley
Francis Badgley (merchant)
Francis Badgley was a Canadian merchant, politician, and newspaper editor.He was born in London, England and immigrated to Canada in about 1785. He lived in Montreal and, in 1788, entered a partnership with Richard Dobie who was active in the fur trade...
, in the Great Lakes area.
Although heavily involved in the fur trade, Dobie was also active in any number of non fur trade enterprises. He accumulated a large fortune in these endeavors and was an important member of the Montreal community.