François Benjamin Pillet facts for kids

François Benjamin Pillet was a French-Canadian fur trapper. He worked in the Pacific Northwest region. This was in the early 1800s. He mainly worked for the Pacific Fur Company.

Joining the Pacific Fur Company

Before joining the Pacific Fur Company (PFC), Pillet learned to speak the Cree language. This suggests he had worked in the fur trade before. In July 1810, Alexander McKay hired him. Pillet was to join the PFC.

In August 1810, Pillet joined a group of trappers. This group was organized by McKay. They traveled from Montreal to New York City. There, the men waited to sail on a ship called the Tonquin. The ship left in September.

Journey to the Pacific

The Tonquin sailed around Cape Horn. This is the southern tip of South America. They also visited the Kingdom of Hawaii. In March 1811, the ship reached the Columbia River.

Building Fort Astoria

Pillet worked with other PFC workers. They began building Fort Astoria. This work started in the middle of April.

In June 1811, the Tonquin left to trade. It sailed to Vancouver Island. There, it traded with different Indigenous nations. After a disagreement with local Indigenous people, the Tonquin was unfortunately destroyed. The only known survivor was an interpreter named Joseachal. He was a Quinault person. He returned to Fort Astoria. A respected Lower Chinookan leader named Comcomly helped him.