David Stuart (fur trader) facts for kids

David Stuart (1765-1853) was an important fur trader. He worked for two big companies: the North West Company and the Pacific Fur Company. His career involved many adventures in the early 1800s.

Life as a Fur Trader

David Stuart played a key role in the fur trade. He helped set up new trading posts. These posts were important for collecting animal furs. Furs were a valuable resource back then.

Working at Fort Astoria

In May 1811, David Stuart was at Fort Astoria. This was a new trading post. The manager, Duncan McDougall, wrote about Stuart in the fort's logbook. Stuart worked very hard clearing trees. He even got injured from all the effort.

Around that time, the Chinookan people living nearby reported something. They said they saw a merchant ship close to the coast. The fur traders worried about losing their valuable beaver furs. They didn't want other traders to buy them first. So, McDougall sent Stuart to a village across the Columbia River. This village belonged to a leader named Comcomly.

It turned out the ship was never really there. Some historians think the Chinookan traders made up the story. They might have done this to get better prices for their furs. Stuart returned the next day with only 20 beaver furs.

Later that June, Stuart and another man, Gabriel Franchère, started a garden. They grew fresh food for the fort. Stuart also led a team to collect tree bark. This bark was used to build roofs and walls for the fort's buildings. He traveled with French-Canadian and Hawaiian workers. They went to Cape Disappointment. There, Stuart checked out the land and looked for animals with valuable fur.

Starting Fort Okanogan

In July 1811, Stuart received new orders. He was told to open another trading post for the Pacific Fur Company. A Two-Spirit person from the Ktunaxa people, named Kaúxuma Núpika, gave them good information. Kaúxuma suggested a spot where the Columbia River met the "Okannaakken River" (now known as the Okanogan River).

Stuart left with eight men for this new mission. Among them were Alexander Ross and Naukane. They followed the Columbia River. They even traveled with David Thompson and his team. Thompson was another famous explorer and fur trader.

By early October, a French-Canadian worker returned to Fort Astoria. He brought good news. Stuart had successfully opened Fort Okanogan. The Syilx people in the area seemed happy to trade with the Pacific Fur Company. However, during their travels, Stuart's team found trade goods from the North West Company. This showed that the North West Company was already active in that region.

In January 1812, Stuart returned to Fort Astoria. He brought several men with him. These men included Robert McClellan and John Reed. They were part of a group that had traveled across the continent. This group was led by W. Price Hunt. Stuart's group had to leave Hunt and most of the workers behind. They needed to get supplies and help from Astoria. Meanwhile, Alexander Ross stayed alone at Fort Okanogan. He spent the winter living among the Syilx people.

When Hunt finally arrived at Fort Astoria in February 1812, he brought about thirty more people. This included Marie Aioe Dorio and her two children. The arrival of so many people worried McDougall. He was concerned there wouldn't be enough food for everyone at the fort.