Mostrando 1777 resultados

The Hudson’s Bay Company was established in 1670. From its long-time headquarters at York Factory on Hudson Bay, the company controlled the fur trade throughout much of the English and later British controlled North America for several centuries and were, at one time, considered the world's largest landowner, owning the area of the Hudson Bay watershed, known as Rupert's Land.

By the early 19th century, the Hudson’s Bay Company had penetrated into what would become the province of British Columbia. As trade with the northwest coast of North America grew, the Hudson’s Bay Company began sending ships out from Britain to supplement riverine overland trade routes to eastern tidewater. In the 19th century the Hudson’s Bay Company operated a total of 24 sail and steam powered vessels in the British Columbia coastal trade industry and on voyages to and from the United Kingdom. These vessels included SS Beaver (1835-1888), the first steam-powered ship on the west coast, and the barque Columbia (1835-1850).

WWI organization whose members were too old or in key positions that precluded them from front-line military service. They were available for local security duties; analogous to the British Home Guard in WWII. There were two companies in Victoria, probably with strength of 50 to 100 men each.

see also: Royal Canadian Naval Reserve.

Created by the Naval Service Act of 4 May 1910. Initially known as the Naval Service of Canada, the designation of the Royal Canadian Navy was approved by King George V in 1911. The Royal Canadian Navy was amalgamated with the other two armed services by the Canadian Forces Unification Act in 1968. The naval element of the Canadian Armed Forces was grouped under Maritime Command that initially had its headquarters in Halifax and subsequently in Ottawa. The title Royal Canadian Navy was restored in 2011 to describe the maritime component of the Canadian Forces.

A permanent “Navy Royal” emerged during the reign of Henry VIII (1509-1547). In the 19th century, Royal Navy ships were heavily involved in the colonial phase in the development of what became British Columbia in carrying out the hydrographic surveys that opened coastal waters to navigation, in a constabulary role, and in providing a presence that backed British and subsequently Canadian sovereignty.

George Hastings Inskip was an officer in the Surveying Service of the Royal Navy. From 1846 to 1850, he served as the second master of HMS Rattlesnake surveying coastlines in South East Australia, the Torres Strait, and the South coast of New Guinea. From 1952 to 1855, he served as master of HMS Virago on the Canadian Forces Pacific doing extensive surveys in the waters of what would become British Columbia. In 1874, he retired in the rank of Captain.

Captain Inskip’s “Remarks Books” (private journals) covering his time on the northwest coast are currently being held at the BC Archives in Victoria, BC. “HMS Virago in the Pacific 1851-1855” written by G.P. and H.B. Akrigg in 1922 is based on these record books.

Walter Hichens-Smith was born in Seattle and signed up as a machinist's apprentice with the B.C. Marine Railway in 1908, completing his apprenticeship in 1913. During these years he also worked as a junior engineer in the survey ship Lillooet and later transferred to the Estevan. From 1917 to 1926 Hichens-Smith was as engineer on the derrick scow at Yarrows Ltd. Thereafter, he worked on several salvage vessels, eventually as Chief Engineer, and was involved in notable jobs including salvage operations on the wreck of SS Princess Sophia.

During World War II, Hichens-Smith was commissioned in the Royal Canadian Navy, eventually gaining the rank of Lieutenant Commander. He served for three years with naval Control in Halifax as a trouble shooter for all merchant ships sailing in convoy out of that port. He then served as E.O. of the frigate Glace Bay. After the war, he returned to the salvage business, was in deep-sea vessels for a period starting in 1948, but finally served with Island Tug and Barge as Chief Engineer of Sudbury.

Westward Towing operated tugs and barges along the coast of British Columbia from 1935 to 1946 and then expanded to manage tankers and petroleum barges under the name Westward Shipping Ltd. It was acquired by Straits Towing in 1955. It is now a shipping agency based in Vancouver.

Single screw, 549 tons gross, steel tug built in the United States. Originally employed as a rescue tug, and owned by Island Tug and Barge Company of Victoria from 1937 to 1947. In 1947, she was sold to the Argentinian government. In 1960, she was sold to an Argentinian towboat company. In 1980, she was sold for scrap and broken up.

Hydrographic Survey vessel built by B.C. Marine Railway Company in Esquimalt, sold in 1939. Lillooet was the first officially designated and constructed vessel in the Canadian hydrographic fleet.