James Curtis Bird
Encyclopedia
James Bird was a Hudson's Bay Company
fur trader. He was born in England and came to Canada in 1788.
Bird made steady progress within the company serving his apprenticeship in York Factory
and then moving on to more westerly posts which he first visited with the HBC inland master, William Tomison. They included Cumberland House, Saskatchewan
and Buckingham House in Alberta.
Bird was named chief factor of the Lower Red River district in 1821. He had a period previously as the acting HBC governor of Rupert’s Land.
At the end of his career, he was an important figure with the company in the Red River Settlement. It was there he married his last wife, having had one or more previous wives according to the custom of the country. He retired there and had a large property at what is now Birds Hill
which was named after him.
His last son, Curtis James Bird
inherited this property and became a prominent part of the larger community. His third son, James Bird
(Jimmy Jock) had a long career as a free trader and sometimes company employee.
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...
fur trader. He was born in England and came to Canada in 1788.
Bird made steady progress within the company serving his apprenticeship in York Factory
York Factory, Manitoba
York Factory was a settlement and factory located on the southwestern shore of Hudson Bay in northeastern Manitoba, Canada, at the mouth of the Hayes River, approximately south-southeast of Churchill. The settlement was headquarters of the Hudson's Bay Company's Northern Department, from 1821 to...
and then moving on to more westerly posts which he first visited with the HBC inland master, William Tomison. They included Cumberland House, Saskatchewan
Cumberland House, Saskatchewan
Cumberland House is a village in Census Division No. 18 in north-eastern Saskatchewan, Canada on the Saskatchewan River. It is the oldest community in Saskatchewan and has a population of about 2000 people...
and Buckingham House in Alberta.
Bird was named chief factor of the Lower Red River district in 1821. He had a period previously as the acting HBC governor of Rupert’s Land.
At the end of his career, he was an important figure with the company in the Red River Settlement. It was there he married his last wife, having had one or more previous wives according to the custom of the country. He retired there and had a large property at what is now Birds Hill
Birds Hill, Manitoba
Birds Hill is a community in the Canadian province of Manitoba located a few kilometers north east of Winnipeg, Manitoba, in the Rural Municipality of East Saint Paul. The town is a few kilometers east of the Red River. A large property in the area was owned by James Curtis Bird, a retired Hudson...
which was named after him.
His last son, Curtis James Bird
Curtis James Bird
Curtis James Bird was a Canadian doctor, politician, and Speaker of the Manitoba Legislative Assembly from 1873 to 1874....
inherited this property and became a prominent part of the larger community. His third son, James Bird
James Bird
James Bird was a fur trader, hunter, interpreter, and guide in both western Canada and the United States. He was probably born at one of the first editions of Fort Carlton which came to be known as Carlton House...
(Jimmy Jock) had a long career as a free trader and sometimes company employee.