Hudson's Bay Company (HBC; Compagnie de la Baie d'Hudson in French) is the oldest commercial
corporation in
North America and is one of the oldest in the world. It was once the
de facto government in parts of North America before European-based colonies and nation states existed. It was at one time the largest landowner in the world, with
Rupert's Land being a large part of North America. From its longtime headquarters at
York Factory on
Hudson Bay, it controlled the
fur trade throughout much of
British-controlled
North America for several centuries, undertaking early exploration and functioning as the de facto government in many areas of the continent before the arrival of large-scale settlement. Its traders and trappers forged early relationships with many groups of
First Nations/
Native Americans and its network of trading posts formed the nucleus for later official authority in many areas of western
Canada and the
United States. In the late 19th century, its vast territory became the largest component in the newly formed
Dominion of Canada, in which the company was the largest private landowner. With the decline of the fur trade, the company evolved into mercantile business selling vital goods to settlers in the Canadian West. Today the company is best known for its
department stores throughout Canada. The Hudson's Bay Company Archives are located in
Winnipeg,
Manitoba, Canada. They also classify the Bay in downtown Winnipeg as the flagship store.
See more at Wikipedia.org...
Free Download Now!
