Anderson, Alexander Caulfield
b. 1814-03-10
d. 1884-05-08
A. C. Anderson was born near Calcutta, India, in 1814 but raised in Essex, England.1 He joined the employ of the Hudson's Bay Company in March 1831, sailing for Canada in April.2 In 1832, Anderson was posted to Fort Vancouver, in 1833 to Fort McLoughlin, and from 1836 to 1839 to Fort Fraser.3 Anderson also served at Fort George (1839-40), Fort Nisqually (1840-1841), and Fort Alexandria (1843-1848).4
Following the Oregon boundary treaty in 1846, Anderson led three expeditions in search of a new fur brigade route from New Caledonia to the coast.5 On the first he travelled from Kamloops to the lower Fraser via Lillooet and Harrison River in May 1846; he returned via the Coquihalla and Nicola Lake, and in May 1847 he traveled from Kamloops and the Coldwater River and Uztlius Creek to the Fraser River near Yale.6 In 1848, Anderson took charge of Fort Colvile, serving there until 1851, when he was transferred to Fort Vancouver.7 He retired from the Hudson's Bay Company on 1 June 1854, settling near Cathlamet in Washington Territory.8
He moved to Victoria in 1858, was appointed postmaster of Victoria and collector of customs for British Columbia, and maintained several business interests as well.9 In 1876, he became dominion inspector of fisheries for British Columbia and also the federal representative to the Indian Reserve Commission.Anderson died on 8 May 1884 in Saanich, British Columbia.10
  • 1. W. Kaye Lamb, Anderson, Alexander Caulfield, Dictionary of Canadian Biography Online.
  • 2. Ibid.
  • 3. Ibid.
  • 4. Ibid.
  • 5. Ibid.
  • 6. Ibid.
  • 7. Ibid.
  • 8. Ibid.
  • 9. Ibid.
  • 10. Ibid.
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