Browse Fur Trade Fonds

Reference code

CA RBD MSG 1245

Source of title

Title based on the content of the fonds.

Level of description

Fonds

Repository

Rare Books and Special Collections

Physical description

2 cm of textual records.

Content summary

A collection of documents from the life of Simon McTavish including a letter to his creditors and a series of legal opinions on the estate of Simon and William McGillivray. Documents' informational value is largely financial in nature.

Language

English

Subject access points

Businessmen -- Canada. | Fur trade -- Northwest, Canadian. | Fur trade -- Canada -- History. | Legal research

Place access points

Montréal (Québec) | London (England)

Name access points

McGillivray, William, 1764-1825. | McGillivray, Simon, 1783-1840

Genre

Correspondence.

Notes

Simon McGillivray was born about 1783 or 1785, in Dunlichty parish, Inverness-shire, Scotland.

He was a businessman. His education was paid for by his wealthy uncle Simon McTavish, of Montreal, who also provided him and his two brothers with careers within his fur-trading empire. He worked at the McTavish, Fraser & Co. in London to maximize profits for the Montreal firm. He became a partner of the firm in 1805 and in 1811, he was made a partner of the parent company in Montreal, McTavish, McGillivrays & Co. In 1821, Simon took a leading role in merging the family-owned North West Company with the rival Hudson's Bay Company. By 1825 their Montreal and London firms, McTavish, McGillivrays & Co., and (since 1822) McGillivrays, Thain & Co. went bankrupt and they were left in debt. His London career continued to prosper. In 1829, Simon was chosen by the United Mexican Mining Association of London to go to Mexico to help reorganize the administration of the company's silver mines. In 1835, he became a co-owner of the Morning Chronicle and London Advertiser. A Freemason in London, from 1822 he held the position of Provincial Grand Master of Upper Canada, a position he held until his death. In 1838, he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society.

In 1837, he married Anne Easthope. He died on June 9, 1840, in Blackheath, Kent, England.

Date

1826-1832