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Starting
in the 1750's the fur trade business slowed down for two reasons.
The first was the Seven
Years War between France and England. Britain won this war
and took control of New France and the fur trade in 1763.
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When
the Treaty of Paris ended the Seven Years War, France got back
some islands in the West Indies in exchange for leaving some
European territory she had occupied. These islands were important
for the spice and sugar trade. This upset some people in Britain,
who thought that New France was less valuable and wanted to
give that back instead!
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This should
have been the start of happy times for HBC. Instead, it faced
new competition from fur traders in Montreal. A number of merchants
formed the North West Company
in 1783. The competition between the two companies was fierce. Both
started to explore further west to find new sources of fur.
In 1793, Alexander Mackenzie became the first European to reach
the Pacific Ocean by crossing the Rocky Mountains.
Hudson's Bay Company territory 1764 to 1820
Biography:
Alexander Mackenzie
George Simpson
Related Stories
The North West Company
Life in the Wilderness
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Why
did the fur trade slow down?
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