b. 1770-04-30
d. 1857-02-10
David Thompson was a fur trader, explorer, surveyor, justice of the peace, businessman,
and author, born in Westminster, England on April 30, 1770. In 1806, Thompson set
out to explore, survey, and map the
Columbia River to the Pacific Ocean. American expeditions to the coast were also being conducted
in 1806, including that by Meriwether Lewis and William Clark. Thompson reached the
Pacific on July 15, 1811, failing to arrive at his destination before the American
Pacific Fur Company, who had arrived a few weeks earlier.
1After receiving an education at the Grey Coat mathematical school, where he was trained
in navigation, Thompson was apprenticed to the Hudson’s Bay Company for seven years
in 1784.2
After fracturing his right leg in the winter of 1788, Thompson spent the winter of
1789-90 in recovery, studying mathematics, surveying, mapmaking, and astronomy with
Philip Turnor, the HBC’s official surveyor.3 In 1797, Thompson left the HBC and joined the North West Company where he was assigned
to survey along the 49th parallel and locate NWC posts.4
In 1814, Thompson retired from the fur trade and completed a large map of the Northwest
for the NWC. In 1815 he moved to Williamstown, Upper Canada with his wife and five
children. Thomson died on February 10, 1857 in Longueuil, Lower Canada.5
- 1. John Nicks, Thompson, David, Dictionary of Canadian Biography Online.
- 2. Ibid.
- 3. John S. Nicks, Thompson, David, The Canadian Encyclopedia.
- 4. Ibid.
- 5. John Nicks, Thompson, David, Dictionary of Canadian Biography Online.