Shelikhov-Golikov Company facts for kids

The Shelikhov-Golikov Company (SGC) was a Russian company that traded furs. It was started in 1783 by two business owners from Irkutsk, Grigory Shelikhov and Ivan Larionovich Golikov. The company operated in Siberia, the Chishima Islands, and areas that later became Russian America.

Russian fur trading groups, called promyshlenniki, often worked on the sea. However, it became harder and more expensive to find sea otters as they had to travel further. The SGC focused its work around Kodiak Island and several Aleutian Islands. Most of the company's workers were from the Aleut and Alutiiq groups. To make sure hunters gathered enough furs, some companies would hold family members from villages. In 1784, Shelikhov led a conflict on Kodiak Island against the native Alutiiqs. This event is known as the Awa'uq Massacre. After this, the company gained full control of the island.

The SGC mainly competed with other Russian traders, like the Lebedev-Lastochkin Company. British and American ships sometimes paid more for furs when trading with Alaska Natives. This made it harder for the SGC to compete. These same foreign traders were often the only way for Russian stations to get supplies. This meant the SGC depended on its rivals for goods. In 1797, several Russian companies, including Lebedev-Lastochkin, joined together to form the United American Company. This made it the strongest Russian trading group. In 1799, Tsar Paul I gave the company a special right to be the only Russian fur trading company in North America. This company then became the Russian-American Company.

Starting the Company

Grigory Shelikhov and Ivan Golikov were both from Kursk. They started working together in 1783. They created the company to "sail to the land of Alaska, which is called America." Their goal was to trade furs and explore new islands. They also wanted to set up friendly trade with the native people.

The company also planned to sell fish and furs to ports in China, Japan, Korea, the Indian subcontinent, and the Philippines. In return, they would buy important supplies like salt and rice for Siberia.

Company Operations

The first trip for the company happened in 1783. Shelikhov led this trip, planning to build several permanent trading posts. The first trading post was built at Three Saints Bay on Kodiak Island in 1784. That same year, Shelikhov led a small group in a conflict against the Alutiiq people living on the island.

Before Shelikhov left in 1786, his fur hunters, along with Aleuts from the Fox Islands and Alutiiq people, set up company stations. These stations were built in places like Cook Inlet, Cape Saint Elias, and Afognak Island. Shelikhov also started more businesses in the Aleutian Islands in 1790 and 1791. These included the Baptist Company, the Unalaska Company, and the Northeastern Company. In 1792, the main office moved to Pavlovskaya.

Wanting a Monopoly

Shelikhov went back to Irkutsk on May 22, 1786. He wanted to tell the government about his company's activities. Both he and Golikov asked Empress Catherine II for a special right. They wanted their company to be the only Russian fur trading company in North America. They argued that only one strong Russian company could compete well against British and American traders in the area.

They also asked for money from the government to help their company grow. In addition, they requested that soldiers from the Russian Imperial Army be placed at their trading posts.

Ivan V. Yakoby, who was the Governor-General of Irkutsk, sent their requests to the Empress. He noted that officials collecting taxes from Alaska Natives had often treated them badly. Because of this, many native people "avoided loyalty and tried to get revenge on the Russians." He suggested that the tax should be voluntary for the native people in the New World.

The government's financial advisors supported giving Golikov and Shelikhov a large loan. They believed the government could earn money by collecting taxes on goods bought and sold. The Empress was happy about the "new lands and peoples" discovered by the merchants and gave them gifts. However, Catherine did not want to change her policy of allowing free trade. So, she did not give the Irkutsk business owners a monopoly.

Later Years

Grigory Shelikhov died in 1795. His wife, Natalia Shelikhova, then took control of the company. Golikov soon left and partnered with another fur trader from Irkutsk, Nikolai Mylnikov. The parts of the company still controlled by Natalia were renamed the American Company.

Natalia gave more daily tasks in Russian America to Aleksandr Andreyevich Baranov. She also used her son-in-law, Nikolai Rezanov, to gain favor with the Imperial Court. Tsar Paul I was much more open to the idea of a Russian fur monopoly than his mother had been. Rezanov was able to arrange a merger between the American Company and Mylnikov's Irkutsk Company on July 20, 1797. This new company was called the United American Company. Natalia sold her part of the company for 600,000 ₽ and put a third of that money back into the new business. Two years later, in 1799, the Russian government announced the Ukase of 1799. This law gave the United American Company the sole right to trade furs in Russian America. This company then became the Russian-American Company.

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