William McGillivray 1764-1825
Fort Kaministiquia was renamed Fort William in honour of this man, a Scot who rose through the ranks of the North West Company to become its principal director by 1804.
Location:
In front of the city hall, 500 Donald Street East, Thunder Bay
Themes:
Fur trade, People
Plaque text:
Born in Iverness-shire, Scotland, McGillivray joined the North West Company in 1784, became a partner in 1790 and its principal director in 1804. Fort Kaministiquia, the Company's wilderness headquarters, was renamed Fort William in his honour in 1807. He was largely responsible for the Nor'Westers' bitter opposition to Lord Selkirk's Red River Colony, but later supported negotiations, which led to the union of the Hudson's Bay and North West Companies in 1821. He served as lieutenant colonel of the Corps of Canadian Voyageurs during the War of 1812 and as a member of the Legislative Council of Lower Canada 1814-25.
