July 15, 1811 Thompson reaches the mouth of the Columbia River.
On July 15th, 1811 Canadian explorer extraordinaire David Thompson and his party arrives on the shore of the Pacific Ocean adjacent to the much sought after mouth of the Columbia River. This essentially completes his vast mapping quest stretching from the Great Slave Lake in Canada, across the major rivers of the Northwest. His accomplishment served as the British counterpoint to the Corps of Discovery lead by Lewis and Clark.
On July 15th, 1811 Canadian explorer extraordinaire David Thompson and his party arrives on the shore of the Pacific Ocean adjacent to the much sought after mouth of the Columbia River. This essentially completes his vast mapping quest stretching from the Great Slave Lake in Canada, across the major rivers of the Northwest. His accomplishment served as the British counterpoint to the Corps of Discovery lead by Lewis and Clark.
Original citation: "David Thompson's map. Credit: National Geographic, May 1996."
However, it was different in several important respects. Thompson was funded by the Northwest Company. Lewis and Clark were funded by the U.S. Congress. Lewis and Clark''s success prefigured the mass migration of American settlers into the West. These settlers quickly amassed the necessary population needed for territorial governments and statehood. Thompson's success emboldened the British fur interests which would forge and control the trading economy north of the Columbia for another 30 years. But ultimately the fur trade ended and the American demographic tide prevailed over native and British interests.
Thus it is historically fitting that Thompson arrived second - after Lewis and Clark and also after the Astorians sent by John Jacob Astor, who were busily building Fort Astoria when he arrived. The Northwest Company and later the British Hudson's Bay Company bought out the American fur interests. But the American settlers won the long contest for control of the Northwest.
The HistoryLink provides some interesting detail. Also,
Thus it is historically fitting that Thompson arrived second - after Lewis and Clark and also after the Astorians sent by John Jacob Astor, who were busily building Fort Astoria when he arrived. The Northwest Company and later the British Hudson's Bay Company bought out the American fur interests. But the American settlers won the long contest for control of the Northwest.
The HistoryLink provides some interesting detail. Also,
The Northwest Power and Conservation Council site provides good articles with images and maps. The map above is drawn from here. See our Delicious site as well.
Denish, D'Arcy. "The Great Map." Beaver, Vol. 84, Winter 2004.
Denish, D'Arcy. "The Great Map." Beaver, Vol. 84, Winter 2004.
I learned in a geography class that we were thumbing our noses up at Great Britain when we gained control of the area and named the northern most US territory on the Pacific, "Washington". I'm sure they (The Brits) were really miffed about that one!
ReplyDeleteGood entry, Phil. You might separate your barebones timeline "nomination" and the longer discussion -- as they do in HistoryLink. Also can you furnish a link to that article?
ReplyDeleteI've edited the post to reflect these changes. But a link to the America: History and Life article is limited to subscribers. I have provided another link and integrated a map into the post.
ReplyDeleteI remember participating in an elementary school state centennial when I was 9 years old. As "US Senators" we debated whether we should allow "another" Washington into the Union. The line that brought down the house concluded, "They're so far away, we'll probably never hear from them again after today." There is an element of truth in that considering the transportation challenges of that day.
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