by Debra Komar
“a readiness, almost an eagerness”: Williams, Hudson’s Bay Miscellany, 154.
“has such tact”: The quotation is cited in Raffan, Emperor of the North, 162, and is loosely attributed to Lord Selkirk, although in his footnote on page 443, Raffan raises concerns the attribution is in error.
“Damning & Bitching”: Quotation attributed to Simpson, cited in Williams, Hudson’s Bay Miscellany, 161.
58 “an outstanding example”: Alan Cooke, “Review of John S. Galbraith’s The Little Emperor: Governor Simpson of the Hudson’s Bay Company,” Archivaria 30, no. 2 (June 1977): 124-25, although Glyndwr Williams cautioned that Simpson’s pathologies were “a matter for the psychologist rather than for the historian” (Williams, “Introduction” to Simpson’s Character Book, in Hudson’s Bay Miscellany, 162).
“a perfect Hypocrite”: Williams, “Introduction” to Simpson’s Character Book, in Hudson’s Bay Miscellany, 195.
“firmness and decision of mind” and “a weathercock”: Alexander Simpson, The Life and Travels of Thomas Simpson, the Arctic Discoverer (London: Richard Bentley, 1845), 80.
“it is his foible”: Cited in Galbraith, “The little emperor,” The Beaver 40, no. 3 (1960): 22.
“had unrivalled opportunities”: Cooke, “Review of John S. Galbraith’s The Little Emperor,” 125.
“one of the best-hated”: Ibid., 124.
“despised”: Galbraith, The Little Emperor, 23.
“plausible and full”: A. Simpson, The Life and Travels of Thomas Simpson, 40.
“severe and most repulsive master” and “guilty of many little meannesses”: Ibid., 80.
“a bastard by birth”: Newman, Empire of the Bay, 140.
“non-conjugal relationship”: Raffan, Emperor of the North, 28.
Simpson’s birth and early years: The date has caused discord among prior biographers. No birth records survive, and what documentation remains is contradictory. In the Canadian census of 1851, Simpson’s age was listed as fifty-five, suggesting a birth year of 1796. His obituary in the London Times noted he was sixty-nine when he died, but his tombstone puts him at seventy-three. Historian John S. Galbraith suggests 1787 was most likely his year of birth and it seems as good a date as any (Galbraith, The Little Emperor, 11-12). As for the place of the blessed event, the possibilities include Dingwall — Dale Terrence Lahey, Fed by Their Wings: The Descendants of Sir George Simpson (Guelph, ON: Datel Publishing, 2003), x — and the parish of Loch Broom — Arthur S. Morton, Sir George Simpson: Overseas Governor of the Hudson’s Bay Company (Toronto: J.M. Dent, 1944) — both in the Scottish Highlands, north of Inverness. All agree Simpson spent his formative years under the care of his aunt Mary in Dingwall, where he received an adequate if uninspired education. Also in attendance in the same two-room schoolhouse was Duncan Finlayson, a boy four years Simpson’s junior, whose “private conduct & character” Simpson considered “models worthy of imitation.” Duncan, “a highly upright honourable correct” lad, would become a childhood friend and lifelong colleague (all quotations from Simpson’s Character Book, 186-87).
59 “where his talents soon advanced”: McLean, Notes of a Twenty-Five Years’ Service, 383.
Simpson traded in sugar: Raffan, Emperor of the North, 44-45.
“sufficient promptness and determination”: Cited in Galbraith, The Little Emperor, 22.
“chosen for his courage”: Cited in ibid., 24, although the original source was not credited.
“did not allow consideration”: Ibid., 17.
“no background or demonstrable skills”: Newman, Empire of the Bay, 139.
“an authority combining the despotism”: McLean, Notes of a Twenty-Five Years’ Service, 333.
“the North-West Company had previously”: Ibid., 388.
“heir apparent”: Newman, Empire of the Bay, 139.
Simpson ignores the conditions of his post: George Simpson’s letter to Mr. Pooler, February 23, 1820, cited in Raffan, Emperor of the North, 62-63.
“the ultimate absentee landlords”: Newman, Empire of the Bay, 205.
“with the lordly hauteur”: Ibid., 140.
60 “despotic”: McLean, Notes of a Twenty-Five Years’ Service, 238.
“as if we had been”: Ibid., 33.
“clothed with a power”: Ibid., 333-34.
“acting as uncrowned king”: Newman, Caesars of the Wilderness, xx.
“more absolute”: McLean, Notes of a Twenty-Five Years’ Service, 386.
“his role in Hudson’s Bay”: Raffan, Emperor of the North, 185.
“the slowness of the communications”: Newman, Caesars of the Wilderness, 247.
“old and useless men”: Attributed to George Simpson, cited in Galbraith, The Little Emperor, 60.
“parsimony of a very”: McLean, Notes of a Twenty-Five Years’ Service, 360.
“economy so ill-timed”: Ibid., 243.
61 “mangeur du lard” — a “pork-eater”: Cited in Galbraith, The Little Emperor, 211.
Simpson wins over all but Dr. McLoughlin: John S. Galbraith believed Simpson should not have claimed all the credit. The NWC factors were, after all, men of business, and their economic interests were better served by conglomeration, even under Simpson (The Little Emperor, 54-56).
“in the art of getting his way”: Galbraith, The Little Emperor, 56.
“sham”: McLean, Notes of a Twenty-Five Years’ Service, 334.
“could outvote me”: Attributed to George Simpson, cited in Williams, Hudson’s Bay Miscellany, 154.
“The Committee received”: McLean, Notes of a Twenty-Five Years’ Service, 385.
62 “tidbits and wine”: Newman, Caesars of the Wilderness, 230.
“Hudson’s Bay sauce”: Raffan, Emperor of the North, 166.
“Clothes that had once”: George Simpson, Fur Trade and Empire: George Simpson’s Journal Entitled Remarks Connected with the Fur Trade in Course of a Voyage from York Factory to Fort George and Back to York Factory, 1824-25, with Related Documents, rev. ed., ed. Frederick Merk (Cambridge, MA: Belknap, 1968), 23, original emphasis (hereafter Fur Trade and Empire).
Simpson dressed like a voyageur: Raffan, Emperor of the North, 168.
“a Radical” and “would be a troublesome man”: Simpson’s Character Book, 176.
Thursday, April 21, 1842 — Midnight
65 As recounted by Thomas McPherson: McPherson’s account is an amalgamation of statements, including his deposition before Sir George Simpson on April 26, 1842 (E13/1, folio 69-81, HBCA) and his letter to John Work on April 21, 1842, as well as statements made by other witnesses that mirror McPherson’s version of events.
“half-seas over”: McLean, Notes of a Twenty-Five Years’ Service, 53. Claims of McLoughlin’s intoxication come from McPherson’s deposition before Sir George Simpson, April 26, 1842: “on the 20th it was perceived about One Clock P.M. that Mr. McLoughlin was the worse of liquor, as the Day advanced he became more so; toward evening he became very drunk.”
“I fell to bed”: Benoni Fleury’s deposition before Donald Manson, August 19, 1842, with addenda dated August 23 and 25, 1842.
“became outraged and thrashed”: Benoni Fleury’s deposition before Donald Manson, August 19, 1842.
“flew at Lasserte”: Ibid.
McLoughlin Jr. strikes Lasserte a second time: Ibid., and corroborated by the testimony of Phillip Smith, who swore McLoughlin began beating Lasserte “repeatedly.” Phillip Smith, deposition before George Simpson, April 26, 1842, E13/z, folio 189-190, HBCA.
McLoughlin Jr. grabs Aneuharazie by the throat: Simon Aneuharazie, deposition before Donald Manson, August 22, 1842, with an addendum from August 24, 1842, E13/1, folio 1-63, HBCA.
66 “became outrageous”: William Lasserte, deposition before Donald Manson, August 11, 1842, with an addendum August 25, 1842.
“there is a danger near me”: Pierre Kannaquassé’s narrative.
“appeared particularly irritated”: Simon Aneuharazie, deposition before J
ames Douglas, April 22, 1843.
“take care of yourselves”: Benoni Fleury’s deposition before Donald Manson, August 19, 1842, corroborated by William Lasserte’s deposition before Donald Manson, August 11, 1842, with an addendum August 25, 1842.
Fleury passed out cold: Benoni Fleury’s deposition before Donald Manson, August 19, 1842.
“They have wounded me”: Francois Pressé, deposition before Donald Manson, August 20, 1842, with addendum from August 25, 1842.
Kanakas: Kanakas were low-level HBC employees of Hawaiian heritage.
“Aux arms, aux arms”: Antoine Kawannassé, deposition before James Douglas, April 22, 1843.
“You also want to kill me”: Francois Pressé, deposition before Donald Manson, August 20, 1842.
67 “any bad intention”: Antoine Kawannassé, deposition before James Douglas, April 22, 1843.
“his rifle fell”: Francois Pressé, deposition before Donald Manson, August 20, 1842. Thomas McPherson, in his deposition before George Simpson, reversed the order of events, saying: “Mr. McLoughlin fell when his Rifle went off.”
“succeeded in extricating”: Francois Pressé, deposition before Donald Manson, August 20, 1842.
“in dread for my life”: Ibid.
“The first Canadian”: Ibid.
Seven or eight shots in quick succession: Ibid.
“seriously alarmed”: Ibid.
Canadians: National, cultural, and tribal affiliations are difficult to categorize retrospectively. “Canadians” (as it is used throughout the text) referred to those of European or mixed European/aboriginal descent. Identities such as “Canadian” and “Kanaka” are defined in greater detail on pages 99 to 100.
Leclaire hides in the smithy: Louis Leclaire’s deposition before Donald Manson, August 19, 1842, with an addendum August 25, 1842.
Heron hides in the toilet: George Heron’s deposition before Donald Manson, August 19, 1842, with an addendum August 25, 1842, E13/1, folio 1-63, HBCA.
Martineau hides and sleeps: Oliver Martineau’s deposition before Donald Manson, August 23, 1842, E13/1, folio 1-63, HBCA.
68 “was walking about the floor”: Thomas McPherson, deposition before James Douglas, April 22, 1843, E 13/1, folio 210-215, HBCA.
McPherson the only sober man: In a letter written to John Work on April 21, 1842, McPherson claimed: “All hands and himself [McLoughlin] were drunk except me.”
“About 9 P.M., [McLoughlin] called”: Thomas McPherson, deposition before George Simpson, April 26, 1842.
“thought he saw a person”: Thomas McPherson, deposition before James Douglas, April 22, 1843.
“to see who it was”: Ibid.
“apprehensive of Mr. McLoughlin’s violence”: Thomas McPherson, deposition before George Simpson, April 26, 1842.
“1½ Gallons” and “began to fight”: Thomas McPherson’s letter to John Work, April 21, 1842.
“ran out of the House”: Ibid.
“Mr. McLoughlin, who”: Thomas McPherson, deposition before George Simpson, April 26, 1842.
“search of Urbain and Lasserte”: Ibid.
“for what object”: Thomas McPherson, deposition before James Douglas, April 22, 1843.
“went around in the Gallery”: Thomas McPherson, deposition before George Simpson, April 26, 1842.
69 “ran down into the area”: Ibid.
“3 shots were fired”: Ibid. In a later deposition before Donald Manson on August 20, 1842, McPherson revised his statement, saying he heard three shots: “the first was fired about half a minute before the second.” The third shot was fired “a few seconds” after the second. “The first shot was fired from the NE Breastwork.” The other two were fired from the SW corner of the main house (E13/1, folio 1-63, HBCA).
“the ball passing through”: Charles Belanger, deposition before Donald Manson, August 13, 1842, with an addendum from August 25, 1842, E13/1, folio 1-63, HBCA.
“one of those Shots”: Thomas McPherson, deposition before George Simpson, April 26, 1842.
Location of McLoughlin’s body: Simon Aneuharazie, deposition before Donald Manson, August 22, 1842.
“lying on his face”: Charles Belanger, deposition before Donald Manson, August 13, 1842.
Shot through the chest: Thomas McPherson’s letter to John Work, April 21, 1842.
“he did not even say”: Ibid.
“We do not know”: Charles Belanger, deposition before Donald Manson, August 13, 1842.
“some said it was”: Ibid.
“I do not know the very man”: Thomas McPherson’s letter to John Work, April 21, 1842.
“the fatal shot”: Lamb, “Introduction,” in Rich, McLoughlin’s Fort Vancouver Letters, First Series, xxxi.
Chapter Four: Dickson’s Folly
71 “air of command”: Elizabeth Arthur, “Dickson, James,” in Dictionary of Canadian Biography, vol. 7 (Toronto/Quebec City: University of Toronto Press/Université Laval, 2003), http://www.biographi.ca/en/bio/dickson_james_7E.html.
“covered with huge whiskers”: Ibid.
Dickson’s prior association with the US military: Ibid.; see also Grace Lee Nute, “John McLoughlin, Jr., and the Dickson filibuster,” Minnesota History, 17 (1936): 444-47; “James Dickson: A filibuster in Minnesota in 1836,” Mississippi Valley Historical Review 10 (1923): 127-40; and “Documents relating to James Dickson’s expedition,” Mississippi Valley Historical Review 10 (1923): 173-81.
Dickson’s grandiose plan: Grace Lee Nute, in her introduction to “The Diary of Martin McLeod,” Minnesota Historical Bulletin 4 (1921): 351-439. The article includes a full transcription of the diary (hereafter “The Diary of Martin McLeod”).
72 “to aid the cause”: Barker, The McLoughlin Empire, 229.
“half-breeds”: Ibid., 228.
“Quixotic career”: “The Diary of Martin McLeod,” 354, original emphasis.
“quite sanguine of success”: Ibid., 359.
“movements at Buffalo”: Ibid., 360.
“Remained one day at Toronto”: Ibid., 356.
McLoughlin Jr. enlists: Sister St. Henry, in a letter to John Fraser, July 11, 1836 (translated from the original French, reprinted in Barker, The McLoughlin Empire, 227-28), wrote that four days prior, John Jr. had “left for Montreal in order to meet a Gentleman who one thinks is called McKenzie who has been in the N. West service, this person is now in the Texan Army, he promised a commission to John.”
73 “Secretary of State” and “Brigadier General”: From the footnote in Barker, The McLoughlin Empire, 227.
McKenzie’s death: Ibid.
“encountered many interesting anecdotes”: McLoughlin Jr. to John Fraser, September 1, 1836, reprinted in Barker, The McLoughlin Empire, 228-29.
“Crossing the lakes Erie and Huron”: Ibid.
“courage and resourcefulness”: Ibid.
“For the devotion”: Ibid.
“McLoughlin and his men”: “The Diary of Martin McLeod,” 360.
“Rambled through Detroit”: Ibid., 362.
74 “saw some of its curiosities”: Ibid., 363, original emphasis.
“his unwashed followers”: Ibid., 365.
Killed oxen worth $150: McLoughlin Jr. recounted the details of the sheriff’s pursuit in a letter to John Fraser, who in turn repeated the account in his letter to McLoughlin Sr., April 13, 1837, reproduced in Barker, The McLoughlin Empire, 235-38.
“an ignorant brute”: “The Diary of Martin McLeod,” 364.
“the person who talk[s]”: Ibid.
“his squaw” and “some excellent Salmon”: Ibid., 367.
“Some savages”: Ibid., 379.
“Such is the manner”: Ibid., 390.
75 “The coat must be red worked”: McLoughlin Jr., letter to John Fraser, October 11, 1836, reprinted in Barker, The McLoughlin Empire, 230-31.
“already prepared”: “The Diary of Martin McLeod,” 359, original emphasis.
“endeavoured to persuade”: Ibid., 393.
“cas
ting lots to eat each other”: Ibid, original emphasis.
“Out of Provisions”: Ibid., 414.
“Dog’s meat excellent eating”: Ibid.
“Since I last wrote you”: McLoughlin Jr., letter to John Fraser, August 8, 1837, reprinted in Barker, The McLoughlin Empire, 239-41.
“long living on corn and pork”: McLoughlin Jr.’s letter to John Fraser, October 11, 1836, reprinted in Barker, The McLoughlin Empire, 230-31.
76 “The more I think on”: McLoughlin Jr.’s letter to John Fraser, July 29, 1838, reprinted in Barker, The McLoughlin Empire, 241-42.
“a man such as your Dixon”: John Fraser’s letter to McLoughlin Jr., April 16, 1837, reprinted in Barker, The McLoughlin Empire, 238-39.
“join your Honorable Father”: Ibid.
77 “Trail of Tears” and “civilized tribes”: Foster, “Killing Mr. John,” 156.
Simpson offers jobs to Dickson’s men: Barker, The McLoughlin Empire, 229.
“By detaching them you will”: Cited in Lamb, “Introduction,” in Rich, McLoughlin’s Fort Vancouver Letters, First Series, xxvii.
“got a letter from Gov. Simpson”: McLoughlin Jr., letter to John Fraser, August 8, 1837, reprinted in Barker, The McLoughlin Empire, 239-41.
McLoughlin Jr.’s job title and salary: Foster, “Killing Mr. John,” 157; Barker, The McLoughlin Empire, 47.
McLoughlin Jr. had not been paid by Dickson: John Jr. told John Fraser, who in turn told McLoughlin Sr. John Fraser, letter to McLoughlin Sr., April 13, 1837, reproduced in Barker, The McLoughlin Empire, 235-38.
“chose to keep him”: Foster, “Killing Mr. John,” 157.
“Dickson’s disordered mind”: “The Diary of Martin McLeod,” 352.
“the invasion ended in”: Barker, The McLoughlin Empire, 229.
78 “made a laudatory speech”: Barker, The McLoughlin Empire, 229. Grant was one of Dickson’s last remaining officers.
Monday April 25, 1842 — Full Dark
79 “Mr. McLoughlin was in the habit”: Thomas McPherson, deposition before George Simpson, April 26, 1842.
