James Hanna (trader) facts for kids

James Hanna (died 1787) was the first European to sail to the Pacific Northwest to trade for furs. This trade, known as the maritime fur trade, was very important in the early history of the Pacific Northwest. It also played a role in how the United States and Canada grew westward.

The Amazing Fur Trade

In December 1780, two ships from James Cook's third big trip, HMS Resolution and HMS Discovery, stopped in Canton (which is now Guangzhou, China). On their way back from the North Pacific, the sailors found something amazing. They could sell the sea otter furs they had gotten for small items on the North West Coast of America for very high prices!

Most of these valuable furs were traded with the local Mowachaht-Muchalaht people. This happened when Captain Cook stayed at Nootka Sound in 1778. Nootka Sound is a large area of bays and islands on the west coast of Vancouver Island. Cook first called it King George's Sound. Later, its name changed to Nootka, which came from Cook mispronouncing the native name, Yuquot. The Mowachaht-Muchalaht people had lived in the Sound for thousands of years.

Because Cook's men got such good prices for furs from Nootka Sound in places like Kamchatka and Macau, the village of Yuquot became very important. It was the main place for the maritime fur trade after 1785.

How Everyone Learned About the Furs

In May 1784, a book called A Voyage to the Pacific Ocean was published. It was the official story of James Cook's third trip. This book talked about how much money could be made from the fur trade in the North Pacific. It got a lot of attention!

The book was based on the diary of James King. He took command of the Resolution after Cook died in Hawaii. King wrote exciting details about the high prices paid in Canton for the sea otter furs. The crew had collected these furs on the American coast. News of this was even printed in London newspapers in September 1785.

King explained that sailors sold their furs for hundreds of dollars. Some really good furs sold for $120 each! He estimated that the furs from both ships brought in about 2,000 British pounds. This was a lot of money, especially since many furs were worn out or given away. The sailors were so excited about going back to get more furs that it almost caused a mutiny!

King also suggested that trading furs between the North West Coast and China and Japan could make people very rich. He noted that Russian merchants made huge profits selling furs in China. He wondered how much more profit could be made if furs were shipped directly from America to Japan, which was only a few weeks' sail away.

James Hanna's Journeys

When people learned about the huge profits from trading furs from the North West Coast of America to China and Japan, some traders decided to act. John Henry Cox and John Reid, who were trading in Macau and had connections in India, decided to try.

Cox and his friends, including Henry Lane, William Fitzhugh, and David Lance, were English traders. They privately funded a special trip under James Hanna in 1785.

First Voyage: A Big Success

Hanna left Macau on April 15, 1785, in a small ship called the Sea Otter. He sailed past Japan and was carried by winds and currents to Nootka Sound. He arrived there on August 8.

During this trip, there was one violent fight where some native Nuu-chah-nulth people died. However, Hanna was very successful in trading for furs. He returned to Macau with 560 fur pelts. These furs were worth 20,400 Spanish dollars!

News of this success quickly reached England. It was reported in the London newspapers on September 21, 1786. The Sea Otter had made one of the most successful voyages ever in such a short time. The ship was small, only 60 tons, with 20 men. The whole trip, including the ship, cost less than 1,000 pounds. But the furs collected in just one month on the coast sold for over 30,000 pounds in Canton! Captain Hanna believed that if they had more goods to trade and stayed longer, they could have collected furs worth over 100,000 pounds.

The beauty of these furs was amazing, and the Chinese valued them highly. People were surprised that this trade hadn't been explored directly from England before, especially since Captain Cook's last voyage described it. Everyone expected that when England learned how valuable this trade was, the East India Company would send ships to trade for furs and try to open trade with Japan. This would bring in a lot of silver and gold, and the furs would sell for much more than in China.

Second Voyage: Exploring and Trading

Because of this great financial success, Hanna's supporters funded a second voyage in 1786. He left Macao in May and reached Nootka Sound again in August.

However, another expedition from Bombay, led by James Strange, had arrived before him. Because of this, Hanna was only able to buy 50 sea otter skins.

Hanna then sailed north. He discovered and named several inlets and islands on the west coast of Vancouver Island. He made a map of the places he visited. He named some places after his supporters, like Cox's Island, Lane's Bay, Fitzhugh Sound, Lance's Islands, and MacIntosh's Inlet. He also saw land to the north, which was probably Kunghit Island, the southernmost island of Haida Gwaii. Hanna, who was Irish, named it Nova Hibernia, and even included a St. Patrick's Bay. Most of these names were later changed by other mapmakers, except for Fitzhugh Sound, Cox Island, and Lance's Island (now spelled Lanz Island).

He then sailed south to Clayoquot Sound on the west coast of Vancouver Island. Clayoquot Sound was the home of a powerful chief named Wickaninnish. He was a very important person in the maritime fur trade in the late 1700s. The area probably had over 4,000 people when Hanna visited. The village of Opitsaht on Meares Island was thought to be the largest native settlement on the entire North West Coast.

Hanna continued his explorations. At Ahousat on Vargas Island (now on Flores Island), he visited Chief Cleaskinah. This chief later became known as "Captain Hanna" because they exchanged names, which was a local custom.

However, Hanna's success in trading for furs on this second trip was limited. Shortly after he returned to Macau in early 1787, he died. He was not able to make his planned third trip to America.