Donald McLean, fur trader, was born in Tobermory, Scotland. He entered the service
of the Hudson's Bay Company as an apprentice clerk in
1833. After serving in the Western Department for two years, he travelled through the
Snake River country and served at forts in
Washington,
Oregon, and Montana territory. In
1842, McLean transferred to the
New Caledonia district, working at various posts including
Fort Alexandria and the Chilcotin, Babine, and McLeod posts.
In
1853, he was appointed chief trader; in
1855 he took charge of
Thompson River (Fort Kamloops).He was ordered to transfer to
Victoria in
1860, but he resigned in
1861 to raise cattle and prospect for gold. He founded the Hat Creek Ranch on the Bonaparte
River. He was killed in an ambush in
1864, while scouting alone during a search for the Indians responsible for the Chilcotin
uprising.