Fort Victoria (British Columbia) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Fort Victoria |
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| in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada | |
Inside of Fort Victoria looking towards the east gate, c. 1850s
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| Type | Fur Trading Post |
| Site information | |
| Controlled by | Hudson’s Bay Company |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1843 |
| In use | 1843–1864 |
| Demolished | November 1864 |
| Garrison information | |
| Past commanders |
James Douglas Roderick Finlayson |
| Official name: Fort Victoria National Historic Site of Canada | |
| Designated: | 4 June 1924 |
Fort Victoria was an important fur trading post built by the Hudson’s Bay Company (HBC). It was the main base for the HBC's operations in a large fur trading area called the Columbia District. This area is now part of British Columbia, Canada, and the U.S. state of Washington.
Building Fort Victoria in 1843 marked the start of a permanent British settlement. This settlement later grew into Victoria, which is now the capital city of British Columbia. The fort itself was taken down in November 1864. By then, the town had grown into a busy trading center. It served the local area and traded with places like California, Washington Territory, and the United Kingdom.
Today, the spot where Fort Victoria once stood is recognized as a National Historic Site of Canada. This happened in 1924.
Contents
Why Fort Victoria Was Built
The main office for the Hudson's Bay Company on the Pacific Coast used to be Fort Vancouver. This fort is now in Vancouver, Washington. However, Fort Vancouver had some problems. It was hard to defend, and ships often found it difficult to enter the Columbia River. Also, it was far from the valuable furs found further north in a region called New Caledonia.
Looking for a New Location
American settlers were also starting to move into the Fort Vancouver area. Because of these issues, the company decided to build a new fort. In 1843, they sent a leader named Chief Factor James Douglas to find a better spot. He was told to build a fort further north on Vancouver Island. Douglas was also made the superintendent, or manager, of this new fort.
The Oregon Treaty's Impact
A big change happened with the signing of the Oregon Treaty in 1846. This treaty settled who owned the land. The United Kingdom gave up its claims to the Fort Vancouver area, which then became part of the United States. In return, the British kept Vancouver Island. The Americans also agreed to drop their claims north of the 49th parallel. This made Vancouver Island a very important British territory.
Building and Naming the Fort
Fort Victoria was built in 1843. The place where it was built was originally called Camosun. This name comes from a word used by the Lekwungen people. It refers to a girl who, in their stories, was turned into stone to watch over resources in what is now the Gorge waterway.
A Royal Name
For a short time, the fort was known as "Fort Albert." But on June 10, 1843, the Hudson's Bay Company decided on a new name. They officially named it Victoria. This was done to honor the young Queen of England.
Working with First Nations
Local First Nations people helped build the fort. They were paid for their work. For every 40 wooden pickets they cut, they received one Hudson’s Bay blanket. The Songhees people soon set up their own village across the harbor from the fort. Later, the Songhees' village moved to the north shore of Esquimalt Harbour.
In 1844, there was a disagreement. A Quamichan chief named Tzouhalem led warriors who threatened the fort. They even shot musket balls at it for two days. But the fort's Chief Factor, Roderick Finlayson, showed them the power of the fort's nine-pounder cannon. This display helped end the conflict.
Growth of the Colony
In 1849, the British government created the Colony of Vancouver Island. The Hudson's Bay Company was given special rights to own land on the island. The government had one condition: the company had to create a settlement within five years. If they didn't, they would lose their land rights. The company also had to spend 90% of the money they made from land sales on things like roads and schools.
Victoria Becomes the Capital
A town was planned out on the fort's site. This new town was made the capital of the colony. London sent Richard Blanshard to be its first governor.
Even as the settlement grew, the Hudson's Bay Company's business was changing. The number of animals was going down because of too much trapping. This slowed the fur trade. However, the California gold rush created a huge need for resources. There were not many places to buy these goods on the unsettled west coast.
By 1850, several sawmills were working in Victoria. They supplied wood to the hungry California market. The company soon began trading salted salmon with Hawaii. They also supplied Royal Navy ships with goods for the Crimean War.
Political Development
The Colony of Vancouver Island became very successful and grew quickly, especially with the gold rush. By 1860, a small legislature was formed. This was a group of people who made laws. However, Governor James Douglas did not want a "responsible government." This meant he did not want the government to be directly accountable to the elected representatives.
Chief Factor James Douglas remained the superintendent of the fort. In 1851, he also became the second governor of the Vancouver Island colony. He was a very important person in the early growth of the city until he retired in 1864. He also governed the Mainland Colony from 1858 to 1862. The fort was finally torn down in November 1864. In June 1924, the site of the fort was officially named a National Historic Site of Canada.
Images for kids
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Site where Fort Victoria was situated. The fort was demolished in 1864.
