Nisqually, or Fort Nisqually was established by the HBC on what was the Nisqually
people's land. The HBC wanted an increased presence in
Oregon Territory, land shared jointly and delicately with the United States, so it petitioned the
British Parliament for the right to form a farming colony. Parliament refused, citing
concerns of umbrage from the United States, but it did extend the HBC's license to
the land, unchanged from the terms of the original license, for a further 21 years.
The Puget Sound Agricultural Company formed in response to the Parliament's play,
and it established its headquarters at Fort Nisqually, near modern-day
Tacoma, Washington State. This was a shadow company for the HBC, and it was led by HBC staff and investors;
in light of this influence, Nisqually became a locus of shipping and agriculture.