b. 1808-11-29
d. 1860-11-22
Charles Dodd worked for the HBC from 1833 until his death in 1860, except for 1851-1852. According to
this letter, he commanded an expedition to recover the property
plundered
from the
Una at
Neah Bay.
Dodd served as first mate on the
Beaver, the
Nereide, and the
Cowlitz from 1836 to 1842. After impressing
Sir George Simpson with his capability on the
Cowlitz, he was placed in charge of
Fort Stikine in 1842, following the death of its previous head officer.
When his contract at
Fort Stikine ended in 1845, Dodd was given command of the
Beaver, an important ship in the fur-trade business.
In 1851, Dodd, who was frustrated by lack of promotion and difficulties finding a
reliable crew, resigned from the HBC and settled in
Victoria, only to return and command the
Beaver again in 1852.
Dodd was transferred to the
Labouchere, a newer and larger steamship, in 1859. In 1860, Dodd was recognized for recovering the scalp of a murdered Colonel,
Isaac N. Ebey, from the northern Kake tribe.
Dodd died of a kidney infection on June 2, 1860, one day after his promotion to chief
factor took effect.
- 1. Shirlee Anne Smith, Dodd, Charles, Dictionary of Canadian Biography Online.
- 2. Ibid.
- 3. Ibid.
- 4. Ibid.
- 5. Ibid.
- 6. Ibid.
- 7. Ibid.
- 8. Patrick McRoberts, North Coast Indians, likely members of the Kake tribe of Tlingits, behead Isaac Ebey
on August 11, 1857.
- 9. Shirlee Anne Smith, Dodd, Charles, Dictionary of Canadian Biography Online.