McLeod, John

(1788-1849)

   Born in Scotland. Entered the service of the Hudson's Bay Company; conducted Selkirk's colonists from York Factory to the Red River, 1811; from that date to the union of the two fur companies in 1821, engaged in building trading-posts and extending the operations of the Hudson's Bay Company towards the Rocky Mountains. Had taken a leading part in the long conflict between the Hudson's Bay Company and the North West Company, some account of which is given in his diary, 1814-1815, reproduced in part in Bryce's Hudson's Bay Company. On the union of the Companies, given charge of the New Caledonia department, west of the mountains, where he remained for many years, finally retiring from the service, and spending the remainder of his days on the banks of the Ottawa.

   Index: MS Leads the Selkirk colonists in their opposition to Cuthbert Grant and the half-breeds, 175; his journal, 175, 176; builds house for governor, 176. D Ascends upper Liard to its southern source in Dease Lake, 1834, 123.

   Bib.: Bryce, Hudson's Bay Company; Burpee, Search for the Western Sea.