24 The Fur Traders. 



Bt. Hon. Sir Donald Alexander Smith, Lord Strathcona 

 and Mount Royal, was born at Torres, Moryshire, in the 

 north of Scotland, August 6th, 1821. He was given a good 

 English and classical education, and in 1838 entered the 

 service of the Hudson's Bay Company. He was first sent 

 to Mingen, Labrador, a desolate region, where he remained 

 thirteen years before he was given a post in the great 

 Northwest in whose history and development he took such 

 an important part. During his stay on the Labrador coast 

 he was attacked with color blindness, and apprehensive of 

 losing his sight decided to go to Montreal to consult a good 

 oculist. The journey at that time was a perilous one, but 

 accompanied by two half-breed guides he finally reached 

 his destination. When he presented himself at the head- 

 quarters of the company he was censured for leaving his 

 post without authority, and commanded to return without 

 delay. Discouraged and disgusted at the reception given 

 him he was on the point of throwing up his position, but 

 upon consideration wisely decided to return to Mingen 

 and remain in the company 's service. His trip to Montreal, 

 however proved a benefit in the end, as it helped to show 

 those in authority the kind of material he was made of, 

 and he was promoted step by step until he became a chief 

 factor. Later he was named resident Governor and Chief 

 Commissioner of the Company in Canada, a position which 

 he held until 1870, when he presided at the last meeting 

 of the Council of Officers held at Norway House before the 

 reorganization of the Company. Subsequently he was ap- 

 pointed Governor of the Board in London ; and in 1886 he 

 was created a Knight Commander of the orders of St. 

 Michael and St. George for his services to the government 

 in Red River rebellion in 1869 and on other occasions. 



"The ofScers who had charge of the various districts in 

 the Northwest annually met in a Council for the regula- 

 tion of the affairs of business for the ensuing year. Look- 

 ing upon themselves as partners of the Company, they felt 

 that they were entitled to participate with the shareholders 

 in any amount which might be received for the cession of 

 the territorial rights of the Company. When therefore the 

 Company had come to an agreement with the Colonial 

 Office for a transfer to the Canadian Government of its 



