Born in Caithness, Scotland in 1796, Donald Manson joined the Hudson's Bay Company
in 1817. An 1825 company report describes Manson as a
fine strapping fellow
who
would be thrown away at an Establishment, active service being his forte.
After supervising improvements at
Fort Vancouver, he was sent to build
Fort Langley in 1827. In 1837, he was promoted to chief trader, and spent the latter part of his
career after 1844 based at
Fort Saint James on
Stuart Lake. Although HBC Governor
Pelly recommended him to
Earl Grey for a commission as justice of the peace in the new colony of
Vancouver Island in 1848, this part of his career was marred by complaints that he treated his subordinates
roughly, which probably blocked his promotion to chief factor. After his retirement
in 1857, he and his family lived on a farm in Champoeg, Oregon.