Thomas Douglas, 5th Earl of Selkirk facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
The Earl of Selkirk
FRS FRSE
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| Lord Lieutenant of Kirkcudbright | |
| In office 1807–1820 |
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| Preceded by | The 7th Earl of Galloway |
| Succeeded by | The 8th Earl of Galloway |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 20 June 1771 St Mary's Isle, Kirkcudbrightshire, Scotland |
| Died | 8 April 1820 (aged 48) Pau, France |
| Resting place | Orthez, France |
| Parents | Dunbar Douglas, 4th Earl of Selkirk, Helen Hamilton |
| Signature | .png) |
Thomas Douglas, the 5th Earl of Selkirk (born June 20, 1771 – died April 8, 1820) was a Scottish nobleman. He is best known as a kind-hearted person who helped many Scottish families move to new homes in Canada. He helped them start new lives in places like the Red River Colony.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Thomas Douglas was born on June 20, 1771, in a place called St Mary's Isle in Kirkcudbrightshire, Scotland. He was the seventh son of Dunbar Douglas, the 4th Earl of Selkirk.
He went to school at the Palgrave Academy in Suffolk. Thomas didn't expect to become the Earl, so he went to the University of Edinburgh to study law. While studying, he saw many poor Scottish farmers, called crofters, who were losing their homes. Their landlords were forcing them to leave their land during a time known as the Highland Clearances.
Seeing how much they suffered, Thomas wanted to help. He looked for ways to find them new land in the British colonies. In 1799, after his father passed away and his older brothers had also died, Thomas became the 5th Earl of Selkirk.
In 1798, he was chosen to be a member of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. This was a special group for smart people who studied science and other important topics.
Helping People in Canada
When Thomas became the Earl of Selkirk in 1799, he inherited a lot of money and land. He used his wealth and connections to buy land in Canada. He helped poor Scottish farmers settle in Belfast, Prince Edward Island, in 1803. He also helped them settle in Baldoon, Upper Canada, in 1804.
In 1804, he visited Halifax and joined the North British Society. He traveled a lot in North America. His efforts to help people made him well-known. In 1807, he was named Lord-Lieutenant of Kirkcudbright, Scotland. In 1808, he became a member of the Royal Society of London.
The Red River Colony Project
Lord Selkirk wanted to keep helping Scottish farmers find new homes. He asked the British government for land in the Red River Valley. This area was part of Rupert's Land. The government said no because the Hudson's Bay Company (HBC) had special rights to trade furs there.
But Selkirk was very determined. He teamed up with Sir Alexander Mackenzie and bought many shares in the HBC. This allowed them to gain control of the company. Because of his power in the HBC, and his wife's family connections, he was able to get a large piece of land. This land, called Assiniboia, was meant to be a farming settlement for the company. As part of the deal, Selkirk agreed to provide the HBC with 200 men each year. He also promised that the settlers would not get involved in the fur trade.
Selkirk also wanted to stop the North West Company (NWC) from competing with the HBC for furs. He thought that by placing the Red River Colony right on the NWC's trade routes, he could block their fur business. However, the local Métis people already lived in the area. They had strong ties with the NWC and did not want Selkirk to control their land. This went against the Royal Proclamation of 1763.
Challenges and Conflicts
The first group of settlers arrived in 1812. There were 128 men led by the new governor, Miles Macdonell. They arrived late in the year and built homes, but winter came before they could plant crops. The colony had to rely on the Métis for food. Even with a full growing season the next year, the colony struggled.
In 1814, there wasn't enough food. Governor Macdonell issued the Pemmican Proclamation. This rule stopped anyone from taking food out of the area. The Métis, who earned money by selling pemmican (a type of dried meat) to NWC traders, were very upset. They responded by arresting Macdonell and burning down the settlement.
Robert Semple was then made governor of the Red River Colony. By 1816, the fighting between the Métis and the settlers became worse. This led to the Battle of Seven Oaks. In this battle, 21 of Lord Selkirk's men, including the new governor, died. One Métis person also died.
After the battle, Selkirk and his men took over the NWC's trading post at Fort William. Selkirk faced legal challenges related to this action. He spent a lot of his money defending himself. The two rival fur trading companies, the HBC and NWC, eventually joined together in 1821. Lord Selkirk passed away shortly before this, in 1820, in Pau, France.
Lord Selkirk's Legacy
Lord Selkirk's efforts to create settlements are remembered in many ways. The City of Selkirk and the Village of East Selkirk are named after him. So is the Winnipeg neighborhood of Point Douglas. The city's Fort Douglas Park, where Fort Douglas once stood, also honors him.
The Lord Selkirk Regional Comprehensive Secondary School and the Lord Selkirk School Division are named after him. The Lord Selkirk Highway in Manitoba also carries his name. In the mountains, Mount Selkirk and the Selkirk Mountains were named to honor him.
The Métis people remember Lord Selkirk's arrival as a key moment in their history. Their strong resistance to outsiders helped them unite and strengthen their identity as a people. A Métis flag and a national anthem were created during this time. A special plaque in Winnipeg, Manitoba, also honors Lord Selkirk's role in Manitoba's history.
Lord Selkirk and John Paul Jones
When Thomas was seven years old, he had a surprising encounter. He was almost taken by John Paul Jones, who was the commander of an American ship. This story is told by Peter C. Newman in his book The Empire of the Bay.
In 1778, John Paul Jones was sailing his ship, the Ranger, near Scotland and Ireland. He was looking for British ships to capture. Benjamin Franklin had suggested that he might capture a British nobleman. This nobleman could then be exchanged for American prisoners. Since Jones was born near the Selkirk estates, he chose the elder Lord Selkirk.
At the last minute, Jones decided not to go himself. He sent two officers and some sailors instead. As the Americans got close to the Selkirk mansion, a governess saw them coming. She quickly moved young Thomas to a safe place. The Americans knocked on the door and the butler answered. Lady Selkirk came to see what was happening. She invited the American officers inside and told the butler to make tea. She also asked him to find some whisky for the sailors waiting outside.
When the officers explained they had come to take her husband, Lady Selkirk said that Lord Selkirk was not home. One officer suggested they take the young gentleman they saw on the way to the house. Lady Selkirk bravely replied that they would have to kill her first. After more talking, Lady Selkirk suggested that to make their trip worthwhile, they could take the family silver. The officers agreed this might be the best idea. Lady Selkirk then told the butler to give the American gentlemen what they needed. He filled a sack with coal and put silverware on top. After drinking a toast to Lady Selkirk, the Americans went back to their ship. They gave their captain the sack of coal and silverware.
Jones wrote a polite letter to Lady Selkirk, offering to buy back the silver and return it. Lord Selkirk wrote back, saying he couldn't accept the silver back without the permission of the Continental Congress. The silver became part of long legal discussions. It was finally returned seven years later.
Family Life
Lord Selkirk married Jean Wedderburn-Colville in 1807. Together, they had three children:
- Dunbar Douglas, 6th Earl of Selkirk (1809–1885)
- Lady Isabella Helen Douglas (1811–1893)
- Lady Katherine Jean Douglas (1816–1863)
Death and Estate Management
When Lord Selkirk passed away, his son Dunbar was only 10 years old. Because Dunbar was so young, Lord Selkirk's properties and money were put into a special trust. Four people were chosen to manage everything until Dunbar was old enough. These people were Andrew Colville, John Hallbrith, Adam Maitland, and Sir James Montgomery, 2nd Baronet.
Works and Writings
Lord Selkirk also wrote books and papers about his ideas and experiences. Some of his notable works include:
- Observations on the present state of the Highlands of Scotland, with a view of the causes and probable consequences of emigration (1805)
- Sketch of the British Fur Trade in North America (1816)
