SIMON FRASER

WHO WAS SIMON FRASER?

• Born on May 20, 1776 in Mapletown, New York.
• He became a skilled fur trader.
• Had 9 children.
• His parents came from Scotland.
• His father was Simon Fraser and his mother was named Isabelle Grant.
• Died in 1862.

WHAT DID SIMON FRASER DO?

• At 16, he joined the Northwest Trading Company which was a fur trading company
• He built forts to start trade west of the Rocky Mountains.
• Built the Rocky Mountain Portage House, Fort James, Fort Fraser and Fort George.
• He travelled through the Rocky Mountains to the Pacific Ocean and did explorations on rivers.

WHERE DID SIMON FRASER EXPLORE?

• His explorations were done in what we now call British Columbia.
• Started fur trading in an area west of the Rocky Mountains all the way to the Pacific Ocean.

WHEN DID SIMON FRASER EXPLORE?

• His first expedition was in 1805.
• From 1776-1862 he was a fur trader.
• Made second voyage in 1808.
• Exploring was hard work during this time.
• Moved to Canada in 1784.

WHY DID HE GO EXPLORING?

• He wanted to find a route from the Rocky Mountains to the Pacific Ocean for trading.
• He was sent by the Northwest Company to build new forts and continue trade in the west.

WHAT TOOLS DID SIMON FRASER USE?

• Borrowed canoes from the natives.
• Canoes were 12 metres long.
• He used a compass, telescope and kept a journal to take notes in and to read notes from other explorers.
• He needed travelling packs for all of his furs that he was going to trade.

HOW DID HE IMPACT THE WORLD?

• He founded the Fraser River.
• We now have a mapped route from the Rocky Mountains to the Pacific Ocean.
• He founded the towns named Lytton, Hell's Gate and Hope in British Columbia.
• Some of the forts he founded in British Columbia are tourist attractions.

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