John Kirk Townsend
John Kirk Townsend was a naturalist who trekked west to the Columbia River, travelling in with Nathaniel Wyeth’s 1834 expedition. He spent two years in the Columbia district before traveling…
Read moreBirnie and the Missionaries
It seems that James Birnie was the first HBC man to greet the many missionaries who arrived at the mouth of the Columbia River. I have many stories in my…
Read moreRose Birnie
Rose Birnie was James Birnie’s younger sister. She lived most of her life in Aberdeen, Scotland, but joined her brother at Cathlamet, Washington Territory, to act as teacher for his…
Read moreRobert Clouston
Chief Trader Robert Clouston wrote pithy letters that were informative and interesting: they are a delight to read, and they also give someone like me a picture of life in…
Read moreRobert Birnie
Robert Birnie was the son of James Birnie, of the NWC and HBC. He was born in “Oregon [Territory] in the year 1824, 7th February, place now called Astoria,…
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