William Hemmings Cook
Encyclopedia
William Hemmings Cook was a Canadian
fur trade
r, settler
, and politician
.
William Cook was born in London
, England
to John and Elizabeth Cook and was baptized in the parish of St. Andrew in Holborn
.
He came to Rupert's Land
in 1786 in the service of the Hudson's Bay Company
, where he worked as a writer at York Factory
. In September 1790 he was sent up the Nelson River
to establish a post at Duck Lake
. On July 1, 1791 he went to Wintering Lake, where he established Chatham House in opposition to William McKay
of the North West Company
. Cook went back to England three years later.
He returned to Canada in 1795, and took charge in 1797 of the HBC posts on the upper Nelson, with headquarters at Split Lake
. He became second-in-command
at York
in 1809, and won the approval of Chief Factor
John McNab. Cook was appointed chief factor in 1810.
In 1818 he was sent to the Swan River
district with headquarters at Fort Hibernia in Saskatchewan. In 1821 Cook was established in the Red River
settlement, where he worked as a retailer and freighter.
He was appointed a councillor to the governor of Assiniboia
on May 29, 1822. On February 27, 1839, he was appointed to the Council of Assiniboia
.
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...
fur trade
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...
r, settler
Settler
A settler is a person who has migrated to an area and established permanent residence there, often to colonize the area. Settlers are generally people who take up residence on land and cultivate it, as opposed to nomads...
, and politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
.
William Cook was born in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
to John and Elizabeth Cook and was baptized in the parish of St. Andrew in Holborn
Holborn
Holborn is an area of Central London. Holborn is also the name of the area's principal east-west street, running as High Holborn from St Giles's High Street to Gray's Inn Road and then on to Holborn Viaduct...
.
He came to Rupert's Land
Rupert's Land
Rupert's Land, or Prince Rupert's Land, was a territory in British North America, consisting of the Hudson Bay drainage basin that was nominally owned by the Hudson's Bay Company for 200 years from 1670 to 1870, although numerous aboriginal groups lived in the same territory and disputed the...
in 1786 in the service of 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...
, where he worked as a writer at York Factory
York Factory, Manitoba
York Factory was a settlement and factory located on the southwestern shore of Hudson Bay in northeastern Manitoba, Canada, at the mouth of the Hayes River, approximately south-southeast of Churchill. The settlement was headquarters of the Hudson's Bay Company's Northern Department, from 1821 to...
. In September 1790 he was sent up the Nelson River
Nelson River
The Nelson River is a river of north-central North America, in the Canadian province of Manitoba. Its full length is , it has mean discharge of , and has a drainage basin of , of which is in the United States...
to establish a post at Duck Lake
Duck Lake
-United States:* Duck Lake , a lake in John Muir Wilderness, California* Duck Lake , a lake in Illinois* Duck Lake , a lake in Blue Earth County, Minnesota* Duck Lake , a lake in Allamakee County, Iowa...
. On July 1, 1791 he went to Wintering Lake, where he established Chatham House in opposition to William McKay
William McKay
William McKay was a noted trader and traveler in Upper Canada, who subsequently served as a military officer during the War of 1812....
of 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...
. Cook went back to England three years later.
He returned to Canada in 1795, and took charge in 1797 of the HBC posts on the upper Nelson, with headquarters at Split Lake
Split Lake, Manitoba
Split Lake is a community in Manitoba on the north shore of Split Lake on Nelson River about 150 miles west southwest of the river's mouth at Hudson Bay....
. He became second-in-command
Second-in-command
The Second-in-Command is the deputy commander of any British Army or Royal Marines unit, from battalion or regiment downwards. He or she is thus the equivalent of an Executive Officer in the United States Army...
at York
York, Upper Canada
York was the name of Old Toronto between 1793 and 1834. It was the second capital of Upper Canada.- History :The town was established in 1793 by Governor John Graves Simcoe, with a new 'Fort York' on the site of the last French 'Fort Toronto'...
in 1809, and won the approval of Chief Factor
Factor (agent)
A factor, from the Latin "he who does" , is a person who professionally acts as the representative of another individual or other legal entity, historically with his seat at a factory , notably in the following contexts:-Mercantile factor:In a relatively large company, there could be a hierarchy,...
John McNab. Cook was appointed chief factor in 1810.
In 1818 he was sent to the Swan River
Swan River, Manitoba
-Economy:The economic base of the town lies in agriculture and forestry along with support industries for same.Almost fifty percent of the surrounding area is under cultivation, most of which is seeded to cereal grain, oilseeds, and other specialty crops. Wheat, rye, barley, oats, flax, and canola...
district with headquarters at Fort Hibernia in Saskatchewan. In 1821 Cook was established in the Red River
Red 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...
settlement, where he worked as a retailer and freighter.
He was appointed a councillor to the governor of Assiniboia
Assiniboia (provincial electoral district)
Assiniboia is a provincial electoral division in the Canadian province of Manitoba. It was first created for the 1879 provincial election, was eliminated in 1888, and was re-established in 1903. It is located in the westernmost tip of the City of Winnipeg....
on May 29, 1822. On February 27, 1839, he was appointed to 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...
.