Anthony Henday
Encyclopedia
Anthony Henday was one of the first white men to explore the interior of the Canadian northwest. His explorations were authorized and funded by the Hudson's Bay Company
because of their concern with La Vérendrye and the other western commanders who were funnelling fur trade from the northwest to their forts.
Henday volunteered to undertake an expedition into this territory. He was a native of the Isle of Wight
who was a convicted smuggler and joined the HBC in 1750 as a net-maker and labourer. Henday had gained some experience in inland travel after arriving at York Factory. On June 26, 1754, he set out with a group of Plains Indians. It is documented that they passed the French Fort Paskoya
where he may have met La Corne
, the western commander at that time.
In October of 1754 he and his group came to what is now Alberta from York Factory with a mission to meet the Blackfoot
and perhaps trade with them.
After receiving an indefinite answer from the Blackfoot (which Henday took as a “no”), Henday traveled back to York Factory with news that he had explored the area and had met with the Blackfoot. Since the answer had been unsure, there were no more expeditions to Alberta.
This trip, and later ones, took Henday across much of the prairies of what is now Saskatchewan
and Alberta
and although his journal cannot always be put in a modern context, it is evident that he brought much trade to York Factory. Records show that some of the trade also went to the French at Fort Saint-Louis (Fort de la Corne
) and Fort Paskoya which were on the route to Hudson Bay. He left the service of the HBC in 1762 largely because his efforts for the company, at least in his estimation, had not been properly recognized.
Anthony Henday Drive, a large ring road in Edmonton
is named in his honour.
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...
because of their concern with La Vérendrye and the other western commanders who were funnelling fur trade from the northwest to their forts.
Henday volunteered to undertake an expedition into this territory. He was a native of the Isle of Wight
Isle of Wight
The Isle of Wight is a county and the largest island of England, located in the English Channel, on average about 2–4 miles off the south coast of the county of Hampshire, separated from the mainland by a strait called the Solent...
who was a convicted smuggler and joined the HBC in 1750 as a net-maker and labourer. Henday had gained some experience in inland travel after arriving at York Factory. On June 26, 1754, he set out with a group of Plains Indians. It is documented that they passed the French Fort Paskoya
Fort Paskoya
Fort Paskoya or Paskoyac or Pasquia was a French fort and trading post near the mouth of the Saskatchewan River. Along with Fort Bourbon, Fort Dauphin and Fort La Reine is was built by the Vérendryes to control the chain of lakes west of Lake Winnipeg...
where he may have met La Corne
Louis de la Corne, Chevalier de la Corne
Louis de la Corne or Louis Chapt, Chevalier de la Corne was born at Fort Frontenac in what is now Kingston, Ontario, Canada, and began his career in the colonial regular troops as a second ensign in 1722 and was made full ensign five years later.He married in 1728 and began investing heavily in...
, the western commander at that time.
In October of 1754 he and his group came to what is now Alberta from York Factory with a mission to meet the Blackfoot
Blackfoot
The Blackfoot Confederacy or Niitsítapi is the collective name of three First Nations in Alberta and one Native American tribe in Montana....
and perhaps trade with them.
After receiving an indefinite answer from the Blackfoot (which Henday took as a “no”), Henday traveled back to York Factory with news that he had explored the area and had met with the Blackfoot. Since the answer had been unsure, there were no more expeditions to Alberta.
This trip, and later ones, took Henday across much of the prairies of what is now Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan is a prairie province in Canada, which has an area of . Saskatchewan is bordered on the west by Alberta, on the north by the Northwest Territories, on the east by Manitoba, and on the south by the U.S. states of Montana and North Dakota....
and Alberta
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
and although his journal cannot always be put in a modern context, it is evident that he brought much trade to York Factory. Records show that some of the trade also went to the French at Fort Saint-Louis (Fort de la Corne
Fort de la Corne
Fort de la Corne was built in 1753 by Louis de la Corne, Chevalier de la Corne at the same time that the second Fort Paskoya was built. It was built a little lower than the Saskatchewan River Forks at the mouth of the Pehonan Creek, a new establishment which originally bore the name of Fort des...
) and Fort Paskoya which were on the route to Hudson Bay. He left the service of the HBC in 1762 largely because his efforts for the company, at least in his estimation, had not been properly recognized.
Anthony Henday Drive, a large ring road in Edmonton
Edmonton
Edmonton is the capital of the Canadian province of Alberta and is the province's second-largest city. Edmonton is located on the North Saskatchewan River and is the centre of the Edmonton Capital Region, which is surrounded by the central region of the province.The city and its census...
is named in his honour.