Simon McTavish

Simon McTavish was a Canadian fur trader and merchant who was born in Stratherrick, Scotland, in 1750. He immigrated to North America at age 13, probably as an apprentice to a merchant. He worked in the fur trade out of Albany, New York, and then moved to Montreal in the mid-1770s. He was a key figure in the creation of the first North West Company in 1779, and he may have been behind the reorganization of 1783. He joined forces with Joseph Frobisher in 1787 to form McTavish, Frobisher and Co, the chief outfitter and sales agent for the NWC. He became the leader of the NWC, which was the main rival of the Hudson's Bay Company in the fur trade. He financed trading expeditions to the Saskatchewan River and the Northwest, but he never travelled west of Lake Superior himself. He was known as the Marquis for his pre-eminent position in the fur trade and his refined style of living. He was a member of the Beaver Club and a prominent figure in Montreal society. He was also a militia officer and an office holder in Lower Canada. He retired from the NWC in 1802, after a series of conflicts with the HBC and the XY Company. He died in 1804 at the age of 54. He was buried in his home in the Golden Square Mile, which was a landmark in Montreal. He left behind a legacy of innovation and excellence in the fur trade.