John Siveright facts for kids

John Siveright was an important person in the history of the fur trade in Canada. He worked for big companies that traded animal furs, and he eventually became a Chief Factor for the Hudson's Bay Company. This was a very high-ranking job, like being a manager of a large trading area. John Siveright was born on December 2, 1779, in a place called Drumdelgy, in Cairnie, Scotland. His parents were John Siveright I and Jannet Glass.

Who Was John Siveright?

John Siveright played a key role during a time when the fur trade was a huge business in North America. He helped manage the collection and trading of furs, which were sent to Europe. This trade helped shape the early history of Canada.

Early Life and the Fur Trade

John Siveright began his career in the fur trade when he was about 20 years old. In 1799, he signed a seven-year contract with a company called the New North West Company, also known as the XY Company. This was his first step into the exciting and sometimes challenging world of fur trading.

Working for the Fur Companies

In 1804, the New North West Company joined forces with another big company, the North West Company. John Siveright continued to work for this larger company. By 1815, he was working at a place called Fort La Reine (which is now Portage la Prairie in Manitoba).

During this time, there were often disagreements and competition between the North West Company and the Hudson's Bay Company. These companies were rivals, both trying to control the fur trade. John Siveright was at Fort Gibraltar when another fur trader named Duncan Cameron was arrested. John Siveright was later connected to some of the conflicts between the companies, but any serious charges against him were not fully pursued. In 1817, he became a member of the Beaver Club, which was a special club for important fur traders.

Family Life

John Siveright married a Metis woman named Louise Roussin. The Métis people are a unique group in Canada with both Indigenous and European heritage. John and Louise had a daughter named Josephte. Josephte later married Alexis Goulet, and they had many children. Some of their children included Maxime, Elzear, and Leonide Goulet. Leonide Goulet was the grandfather of George R. D. Goulet, who became a well-known writer and historian.

Later Years and Legacy

John Siveright passed away on September 4, 1856, in Edinburgh, Scotland. He was buried in Warriston Cemetery in Edinburgh. His life shows how people from Scotland played a part in the development of the fur trade and the early history of Canada.