Hudson's Bay Company

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).