Adam Grant Horne
Encyclopedia
Adam Grant Horne was a Hudson's Bay Company
employee at the Colony of Vancouver Island
, a municipal politician and a businessman. He was born in Edinburgh, Scotland and died at Nanaimo, British Columbia
. He married Elizabeth Bate whose brother, Mark Bate, also an HBC employee, was the first Mayor of Nanaimo.
Horne arrived in British Columbia
as a labourer in 1851 aboard the immigrant ship Tory and was in charge of the company store in Nanaimo
when, in 1862, the company sold out. After operating a business on his own account in Nanaimo, he took further employment with the HBC first at its Fort Simpson
post and then took charge of its Comox
operation from 1865 to 1878 when the post there was closed as well. At that time Horne returned to business on his own account in Nanaimo where he also served as an alderman.
In 1856 Horne led what is thought to have been the first crossing of mid-Vancouver Island
by a European. He was to ascertain whether a trail existed from the present location of Qualicum Beach, British Columbia
, on Vancouver Island's east coast in the hopes of establishing trade with the Nuu-chah-nulth who lived on the west coast. At the mouth of the Qualicum River
, Horne's party and their native guides observed a large fleet of Haida canoes approaching and hid in trees unable to warn the villagers of the impending attack. Afterwards, they observed the attackers as they left holding human heads. When they came to the mouth of the river, they came upon the charred remains of the village of Saatlaam and the mutilated bodies of its inhabitants.
Horne's expedition found the existing trail used by natives as a trade route across the island.
Horne Lake
, at the headwaters of the Qualicum River
, is named for Horne.
Hudson's Bay Company
The Hudson's Bay Company , abbreviated HBC, or "The Bay" is the oldest commercial corporation in North America and one of the oldest in the world. A fur trading business for much of its existence, today Hudson's Bay Company owns and operates retail stores throughout Canada...
employee at the Colony of Vancouver Island
Colony of Vancouver Island
The Colony of Vancouver Island , was a crown colony of British North America from 1849 to 1866, after which it was united with British Columbia. The united colony joined the Dominion of Canada through Confederation in 1871...
, a municipal politician and a businessman. He was born in Edinburgh, Scotland and died at Nanaimo, British Columbia
Nanaimo, British Columbia
Nanaimo is a city on Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada. It has been dubbed the "Bathtub Racing Capital of the World" and "Harbour City". Nanaimo is also sometimes referred to as the "Hub City" because of its central location on Vancouver Island and due to the layout of the downtown...
. He married Elizabeth Bate whose brother, Mark Bate, also an HBC employee, was the first Mayor of Nanaimo.
Horne arrived in British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
as a labourer in 1851 aboard the immigrant ship Tory and was in charge of the company store in Nanaimo
Nanaimo, British Columbia
Nanaimo is a city on Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada. It has been dubbed the "Bathtub Racing Capital of the World" and "Harbour City". Nanaimo is also sometimes referred to as the "Hub City" because of its central location on Vancouver Island and due to the layout of the downtown...
when, in 1862, the company sold out. After operating a business on his own account in Nanaimo, he took further employment with the HBC first at its Fort Simpson
Fort Simpson (Columbia Department)
Fort Simpson was a fur trading post established in 1831 by the Hudson's Bay Company near the mouth of the Nass River in present-day British Columbia, Canada. In 1834 it was moved to the Tsimpsean Peninsula, about halfway between the Nass River and the Skeena River...
post and then took charge of its Comox
Comox
Comox is a name from the Kwak'wala language, meaning "plenty" and "riches". The Kwakwaka'wakw people of British Columbia, Canada applied it as a metonym to the Salish people living in the area of the present-day town of the same name...
operation from 1865 to 1878 when the post there was closed as well. At that time Horne returned to business on his own account in Nanaimo where he also served as an alderman.
In 1856 Horne led what is thought to have been the first crossing of mid-Vancouver Island
Vancouver Island
Vancouver Island is a large island in British Columbia, Canada. It is one of several North American locations named after George Vancouver, the British Royal Navy officer who explored the Pacific Northwest coast of North America between 1791 and 1794...
by a European. He was to ascertain whether a trail existed from the present location of Qualicum Beach, British Columbia
Qualicum Beach, British Columbia
Qualicum Beach is a town in the Regional District of Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada. As of the 2006 census, the town had 8,502 people.On the Strait of Georgia on the north-eastern coast of Vancouver Island in the shadow of Mount Arrowsmith, the community has been a popular tourist destination,...
, on Vancouver Island's east coast in the hopes of establishing trade with the Nuu-chah-nulth who lived on the west coast. At the mouth of the Qualicum River
Qualicum River
The Qualicum River is a river on the east coast of Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada, flowing northeast into the Strait of Georgia just south of Qualicum Bay, near the town of Qualicum. The river's name comes from that of the Qualicum people....
, Horne's party and their native guides observed a large fleet of Haida canoes approaching and hid in trees unable to warn the villagers of the impending attack. Afterwards, they observed the attackers as they left holding human heads. When they came to the mouth of the river, they came upon the charred remains of the village of Saatlaam and the mutilated bodies of its inhabitants.
Horne's expedition found the existing trail used by natives as a trade route across the island.
Horne Lake
Horne Lake
Horne Lake is located west of Qualicum Beach. Named after Adam Grant Horne, Hudson's Bay Company storekeeper at Nanaimo, who 'discovered' this lake in 1856....
, at the headwaters of the Qualicum River
Qualicum River
The Qualicum River is a river on the east coast of Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada, flowing northeast into the Strait of Georgia just south of Qualicum Bay, near the town of Qualicum. The river's name comes from that of the Qualicum people....
, is named for Horne.
