John West (captain) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
John West
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| Born | January 8, 1809 |
| Died | December 27, 1888 (aged 79) |
| Nationality | Scottish |
| Other names | Captain John West |
| Occupation | Millwright, Exporter |
| Known for | Founder of Westport, Oregon |
John West (1809–1888) was a clever inventor and businessman from Scotland. He moved to Canada, then California, and finally to Oregon. In Oregon, he ran a factory that canned food, like tuna, and sent it to Great Britain.
A company in the UK, Pelling Stanley and Company, bought his tuna. They also paid to use his name. This is how "John West" became a famous brand name for food today.
Contents
Life and Work
Early Life and Moving to America
John West was born in 1809. He moved to Quebec, Canada where he got married and started a family. He also trained as a millwright, someone who designs and builds mills and machinery.
In 1849, John West left his family to look for gold in California. A year later, he hadn't found much gold. He then moved to Astoria, Oregon. There, he used his skills as a millwright to find work.
Building a Community in Oregon
In 1853, John West and his wife, Margaret, claimed a large piece of land. It was about 640 acres (2.6 square kilometers) along the Columbia River. This was part of the Donation Land Claim Act. Soon, he started building a sawmill there. This mill used water power to cut wood.
In the early 1860s, West built a new sawmill that used steam power. By 1868, he was sending lumber all the way to Australia. A community grew around his sawmill. This community became known as Westport, Oregon.
The West family sold the mill in the early 1900s. The Westport Lumber Company kept running it until 1956. They closed it because it was too hard to find enough large logs.
Innovations in Food Canning
John West also started exporting salmon as early as 1857. At first, he salted the fish and packed them in barrels. These barrels were shipped to California. From there, they went around Cape Horn to the East Coast of the United States. Finally, they reached Great Britain.
In 1868, West and some partners started the Westport Cannery. This was the first cannery on the Oregon side of the Columbia River. In 1873, the cannery packed 22,000 cases of salmon. That same year, it won a gold medal at a competition. This competition later became the Oregon State Fair.
Salmon canning grew very popular in the 1880s. By 1883, there were 39 canneries on the Columbia River. About 1,700 fishing boats supported these canneries.
John West was an inventor too. He created a machine that could automatically fill cans. He was also the first in the area to use salmon waste. He turned it into oil and fishmeal. He even tried canning beef, mutton, and blackberries. This kept his machines and workers busy when salmon were not in season.
Today, the "John West" brand is still famous. John West Foods is based in Liverpool, England. They sell canned fish, fruit, vegetables, and meat around the world.
"Captain" John West passed away in 1888. He was 79 years old. He is buried in the West family plot at the Westport Cemetery.
Remembering John West
On July 14, 2009, an Oregon Historical Marker was put up. It is near Bradley State Scenic Viewpoint in Westport, Oregon. This marker remembers John West and the town of Westport. Bryan C. Aalberg, a great-great-great-grandson of John West, helped create this marker.
