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John McLoughlin

For other people named John McLoughlin, seeJohn McLoughlin (disambiguation).

John McLoughlin,baptizedJean-Baptiste McLoughlin,(October 19, 1784 – September 3, 1857) was a French-Canadian, later American,Chief Factorand Superintendent of theColumbia Districtof theHudson's Bay CompanyatFort Vancouverfrom 1824 to 1845. He was later known as the "Father of Oregon" for his role in assisting the American cause in theOregon Country.In the late 1840s, his general store inOregon Citywas famous as the last stop on theOregon Trail.

John McLoughlin
Digital photograph made from alantern slideof Dr. John McLoughlin
Born
Jean-Baptiste McLoughlin

(1784-10-19)October 19, 1784
Rivière-du-Loup,Quebec
DiedSeptember 3, 1857(1857-09-03)(aged 72)
Oregon City, Oregon Territory
Employer(s)Hudson's Bay CompanyandNorth West Company
Known forFort VancouverandFort William, Ontario
TitleChief Factor
SuccessorJames Douglas
Spouse(s)Marguerite McLoughlin, (married Nov 1842)

Early days

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McLoughlin was born in October 1784 inRivière-du-Loup,Quebec,[1]and was of Scottish and French Canadian descent. He lived with his great uncle, Colonel William Fraser, for a while as a child.[2]Though baptizedRoman Catholic,he was raisedAnglican.In his later life, he returned to the Roman Catholic faith.

In 1798, he began to study medicine under SirJames Fisherof Quebec.[1]McLoughlin was granted a licence to practice medicine inLower Canada(now Quebec) in 1803.[1]He evidently completed his course, as he is widely referred to as "Dr. John McLoughlin".

North West Company

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McLoughlin was hired as a physician atFort William,the inland headquarters and a fur trade post of theNorth West CompanyonLake Superior.[when?]There he became a trader and mastered severalIndianlanguages. In 1814, he became a partner in the company.

In 1816 McLoughlin was charged with complicity in the massacre at theRed River Colonyafter theBattle of Seven Oaks.He and all the other parties from the North West Company were exonerated. TheHudson's Bay Companywas found culpable by the appointed Royal Commissioner at its trial on October 30, 1818, and in the later prosecutions by Lord Selkirk and the successful counter-suits.[1][3]

McLoughlin was instrumental in the negotiations leading to the North West Company's 1821 merger with the Hudson's Bay Company. He was promoted to head theLac la Pluie districttemporarily shortly after the merger.

Hudson's Bay Company

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Main articles:Columbia DepartmentandHudson's Bay Company
John McLoughlin
John McLoughlin,National Statuary Hall Collection,statue

In 1824, the Hudson's Bay Company appointed McLoughlin, already aChief Factor,as Superintendent of theColumbia Department(roughly parallel to what Americans know as theOregon Country), andPeter Skene Ogdenwas appointed to assist him. At the time, the region was under joint occupation of both the United States and Britain pursuant to theTreaty of 1818.Upon his arrival, McLoughlin determined that the headquarters of the company atFort Astoria(nowAstoria,Oregon), at the mouth of theColumbia River,was unfit. TheYork Factory Expresstrade route had evolved from an earlier express brigade used by theNorth West CompanybetweenFort George,founded in 1811 byJohn Jacob Astor'sAmerican Fur Company) at the mouth of theColumbia River,toFort WilliamonLake Superior.

In the 1821 merger with the North West Company, the Hudson's Bay Company gained control of North West Company trading posts west of the Rocky Mountains. They established headquarters at Fort George (formerly Astoria).[4]George Simpson,Governor of Hudson's Bay Company, visited the Columbia District in 1824–25, journeying from York Factory. He investigated a quicker route than previously used, following theSaskatchewan Riverand crossing the mountains atAthabasca Pass.This route was thereafter followed by theYork Factory Expressbrigades.

Fort Vancouver

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Main article:Fort Vancouver

McLoughlin builtFort Vancouveras a replacement for Fort George, on the north side of theColumbia River,a few miles upstream from the confluence of the Columbia andWillamette Rivers.The site was chosen by SirGeorge Simpson.The post was opened for business on March 19, 1825. From hisColumbia Departmentheadquarters in Fort Vancouver, McLoughlin supervised trade and kept peace with the Indians, inaugurated salmon and timber trade with Mexican-controlledCaliforniaandHawaii,and suppliedRussian Americawith produce.

Fort Vancouver became the center of activity in the Pacific Northwest. Every year ships would come from London to drop off supplies and trade goods in exchange for the furs. It was the nexus for thefur tradeon the Pacific Coast; its influence reached from theRocky Mountainsto theHawaiian Islands,and from Russian Alaska into Mexican-controlledCalifornia.From Fort Vancouver, at its pinnacle, McLoughlin watched over 34 outposts, 24 ports, six ships, and 600 employees. Under McLoughlin's management, the Columbia Department remained highly profitable, in part due to the ongoing high demand forbeaverhats in Europe. John McLoughlin was worried Fort Vancouver would be attacked and plundered of its heavy stock of supplies, due to its proximity to theWillamette Valley,in which there was already an American settlement of some size.[5]

York Factory Express

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Main article:York Factory Express

By 1825 there were usually two brigades from opposite ends of the route, (Fort Vancouverin theColumbia Districton the lowerColumbia Riverand the other fromYork FactoryonHudson Bay), that set out in spring and passed each other in the middle of the continent. Each brigade consisted of about forty to seventy-five men and two to five specially made boats that travelled at breakneck speed (for the time). These brigades often needed help from Indians, who would help the men portage around falls and unnavigable rapids; in return, the Indians were paid with trade goods. An 1839 report cites the travel time as three months and ten days—almost 26 miles (40 km) per day on average. The brigades used boat, horseback, and backpacks to bring the supplies in and furs out to the forts and trading posts along the route.

Puget Sound Agricultural Company

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Main article:Puget Sound Agricultural Company

The Hudson Bay Company officially discouraged settlement because it interfered with the lucrative fur trade. Two developments in the late 1830s made a reappraisal of Hudson's Bay Company operations in the Columbia Department necessary. Apprehensions about American antagonism rose due toU.S. SenatorLewis F. Linn,who in 1838 called for a naval force to be dispatched to the Columbia River, although the measure never passed. Favorable relations with theRussian-American Company(RAC) were established with the signing of theRAC-HBC Agreementin 1839.

To meet the new commercial obligations and to support British claims in the Oregon Question, the Hudson's Bay Company formally incorporated thePuget Sound Agricultural Company(PSAC) subsidiary in 1840. The new venture, while nominally independent, was administratively included within the Columbia Department. McLoughlin criticized the idea of a fur tradingmonopolymaintaining agricultural operations, as he felt independent farmers would be efficient.[6]Nonetheless, he was appointed as the PSAC supervisor.

The fertile plains near theCowlitz Riverwere selected as a suitable location forCowlitz Farm,the principal PSAC farm.Fort Nisquallywas also assigned to the PSAC, where numerous livestock herds were maintained. Several locations were considered for potential farmers, including among the French-Canadian and Métis farmers of the Willamette Valley,[7]Scotland,[8]and theRed River colony.[9]

In November 1839 SirGeorge SimpsoninstructedDuncan Finlaysonto begin promoting the PSAC among the Red River colonists.[9]James Sinclair was appointed byDuncan Finlaysonto guide the mostly Métis settler families to Fort Vancouver.[10]In June 1841, the party leftFort Garrywith 23 families consisting of 121 people.[11]When they arrived at Fort Vancouver, they numbered 21 families of 116 people.[10]Fourteen families were relocated toFort Nisqually,while the remaining seven families were sent toFort Cowlitz.[12]

Japanese shipwreck

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Main article:Otokichi

When three Japanese sailors, among themOtokichi,were shipwrecked on theOlympic Peninsulain 1834, McLoughlin thought they might present an opportunity to open trade withJapan.He sent the three men toLondonon theEagleto try to convince the Crown of his plan.[13]They reached London in 1835, probably the first Japanese to do so since the 16th centuryChristopher and Cosmas.When the British Government did not show interest, the castaways were sent toMacauso that they could be returned to Japan. Even that was not possible, as Japan did not allow any outside ships to enter its waters.

Relations with American settlers

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In 1821, with the merger of HBC and theNorth West Company,the British Parliament imposed the laws ofUpper Canadaon British subjects inRupert’s Landand the Columbia District, and gave the authority to enforce those laws to the newly reconfiguredHudson's Bay Company.[14]McLoughlin, as Superintendent ofFort Vancouver,applied the law to British subjects, kept peace with the natives and sought to maintain law and order over American settlers as well.

In August 1828, McLoughlin was in charge at Fort Vancouver when American explorerJedediah Smith,John Turner,Arthur Black, and Richard Leland arrived, the only survivors of themassacre of fifteen members of his exploring partybyUmpqua people,who lived to the south in Oregon. McLoughlin sent a party headed by Alexander Roderick McLeod to recover Smith's property.[15]

In the early 1840s, with the arrival of the firstwagon trainsvia theOregon Trail,McLoughlin disobeyed company orders and extended substantial aid to the American settlers. Relations between Britain and the United States had become very strained, and many expected war to break out any time. McLoughlin's aid probably prevented an armed attack on his outpost by the numerous American settlers. The settlers understood that his motives were not purely altruistic, and some resented the assistance, working against him for the rest of his life.

Pressure over the Pacific Northwest

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As tensions mounted in theOregon boundary dispute;Simpson, realizing that border might ultimately be as far north as the49th parallel,ordered McLoughlin to relocate their regional headquarters toVancouver Island.McLoughlin, in turn, directedJames Douglasto constructFort Camosun(nowVictoria,British Columbia,Canada) in 1843. But McLoughlin, whose life was increasingly connected to theWillamette RiverValley, refused to move there.

McLoughlin was involved with the debate over the future of theOregon Country.[16]He advocated an independent nation that would be free of the United States during debates at theOregon Lyceumin 1842 through his lawyer.[16]This view won support at first and a resolution adopted but was later moved away from in favor of a resolution byGeorge Abernethyof theMethodist Missionto wait on forming an independent country.[16]

In 1843, American settlers established their own government, called theProvisional Government of Oregon.A legislative committee drafted a code of laws known as theOrganic Law.It included the creation of an executive committee of three, a judiciary, militia, land laws, and four counties. There was vagueness and confusion over the nature of the 1843 Organic Law, in particular, whether it was constitutional or statutory. In 1844, a new legislative committee decided to consider it statutory. The 1845 Organic Law made additional changes, including allowing the participation of British subjects in the government. Although theOregon Treatyof 1846 settled the boundaries of US jurisdiction upon all lands south of the 49th parallel, the Provisional Government continued to function until 1849, when the first governor of Oregon Territory arrived.

Personal life

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Around 1810, McLoughlin entered into a relationship with Marguerite Waddens McKay.[17]McKay was the daughter ofJean-Étienne Waddens,who was one of the original partners of the North West Company, and an indigenous woman whose name is unknown.[18]She was the widow ofAlexander McKay,a trader killed in theTonquinincident. Her sonThomasbecame McLoughlin's stepson.[18]McLoughlin and McKay had four children:John Jr.,Elisabeth, Eloisa, and David.[19]They were legally married in 1842 at Fort Vancouver.[17]

McLoughlin's appearance, 6 foot 4 inches (193 cm) tall with long, prematurely white hair, brought him respect; but he was also generally known for his fair treatment of the people with whom he dealt, whether they were British subjects, U.S. citizens, or of indigenous origin[citation needed](notwithstanding for example, his asymmetric use of force against theS'Klallamtribe after an earlier raid--an HBC ship under his command fired its cannons into an unrelated village nearPort Townsendin the early morning, killing twenty-seven people and leveling the village.[20]). At the time, the wives of many Hudson's Bay field employees were indigenous, including McLoughlin's own wife.[18]

John McLoughlin lost one son to a violent death.John McLoughlin, Jr.had been appointed the second Clerk in Charge atFort Stikine,only to die in April 1842 at the hands of one of the fort employees,Urbain Heroux,who was charged with his murder but acquitted for lack of evidence, which added to the grievances John Sr. held against the company.

Later life in the Oregon Territory

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After resigning from the Hudson's Bay Company in 1846, McLoughlin moved his family south toOregon Cityin theWillamette Valley.TheOregon Treatyhad been ratified by that time, and the region, now known as theOregon Territory,was part of the United States. The valley was the destination of choice for settlers streaming in over theOregon Trail.At his Oregon City store, he sold food and farming tools to settlers.

In 1847, McLoughlin was given theKnighthood of St. Gregory,bestowed on him byPope Gregory XVI.He became a U.S. citizen in 1849. McLoughlin's opponents succeeded in inserting a clause forfeiting his land claim in theDonation Land Claim Act of 1850bySamuel R. Thurston.Although it was never enforced, it embittered the elderly McLoughlin. He served as mayor of Oregon City in 1851, winning 44 of 66 votes. He died of natural causes in 1857. His grave is now located beside his home overlooking downtown Oregon City.[21]

Legacy

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McLoughlin is featured on the 1925Fort Vancouver Centennial half dollardesigned byLaura Gardin Fraser.

In 1953, the state of Oregon donated to theNational Statuary Hall Collectiona bronze statue of McLoughlin, which is currently displayed at theCapitol Visitor Center.The title "Father of Oregon" was officially bestowed on him by theOregon Legislative Assemblyin 1957, on the centennial of his death. Many landmarks in Oregon are named after him, including:

McLoughlin's former residence in Oregon City, now known as theMcLoughlin House,is today a museum; it is part of theFort Vancouver National Historic Site.

See also

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Citations

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  1. ^abcdLamb 1985.
  2. ^Morrison, Dorothy; Morrison, Jean (1980). "John McLoughlin, Reluctant Fur Trader".Oregon Historical Quarterly.81(4): 377–389.JSTOR20613754.
  3. ^Encyclopedia Canadiana.Vol. 6. Toronto, ON: Grolier Limited. 1970. pp. 292–293.;Grant, Cuthbert National Historic Person.Directory of Federal Heritage Designations.Parks Canada.Retrieved January 9, 2015.;Woodcock, George (1985)."Grant, Cuthbert".In Halpenny, Francess G (ed.).Dictionary of Canadian Biography.Vol. VIII (1851–1860) (online ed.).University of Toronto Press.RetrievedJanuary 12,2014.
  4. ^"Red River Settlement".The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed.Columbia University Press.2007.Archivedfrom the original on January 7, 2009.RetrievedFebruary 19,2009.
  5. ^Rich, E.E., ed. (1944).The Letters of John McLoughlin from Fort Vancouver to the Governor and Committee. Third Series, 1844–46 (HBC Series).The Publications of the Champlain Society. p. 18.doi:10.3138/9781442618381.ISBN978-1-4426-1838-1.
  6. ^Galbraith 1954,p. 241.
  7. ^Galbraith 1954,p. 247.
  8. ^Galbraith 1954,p. 249.
  9. ^abGalbraith 1954,p. 252.
  10. ^abGalbraith 1954,p. 254.
  11. ^Simpson 1847,p. 62.
  12. ^Galbraith 1954,pp. 254–255.
  13. ^Brook, Marisa."Otokichi's Long Trip Home".www.damninteresting.com.Archived fromthe originalon September 15, 2013.RetrievedSeptember 9,2013.
  14. ^Brown, Stephen R. (2020).The Company: The Rise and Fall of the Hudson's Bay Empire.Doubleday Canada. p. ebook loc. 327.
  15. ^Morgan, Dale L. (1953).Jedediah Smith and the Opening of the West.University of Nebraska Press. p. ebook loc. 4239, 4392.
  16. ^abcHines, Joseph Wilkinson."CHAPTER VIII. The Provisional Government".Touching incidents in the life and labors of a pioneer on the Pacific coast since 1853.Library of Congress.Archivedfrom the original on February 10, 2010.RetrievedFebruary 11,2007.
  17. ^abLamb, W. Kaye."John McLoughlin".Dictionary of Canadian Biography.University of Toronto and Université Laval.RetrievedDecember 29,2023.
  18. ^abcCorning, Howard M. (1989)Dictionary of Oregon History.Binfords & MortPublishing. p. 161.
  19. ^"Marguerite McLoughlin".Fort Vancouver National Historic Site.National Park Service.RetrievedDecember 29,2023.
  20. ^Buerge, David(2017).Chief Seattle and the Town That Took His Name.
  21. ^Egan, Timothy (1990).The Good Rain.Vintage Departures. p. 184.

Bibliography

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Further reading

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