Hudson Bay Company

Manuscript volume containing extracts [made in 1801] from the records of the Hudson's Bay Company dated between 1684 and 1719, relating to efforts to maintain the Company's monopoly, renew its charter and guarantee its priveledges against the French during the War of Spanish Succession (1701-1714) and the Peace of Utrecht (Apr 1713). The presence of the Company's arms on the binding suggests the extracts were made by them.

The Hudson Bay Company was incorporated in England on May 2, 1670, to seek a northwest passage to the Pacific, to occupy the lands adjacent to Hudson Bay, and to carry on any commerce with those lands that might prove profitable. The Company engaged in the fur trade during its first two centuries of existence. In the 1670s and '80s the company established a number of posts on the shores of James and Hudson bays. Most of these posts were captured by the French and were in French hands between 1686 and 1713, when they were restored to the company by the Treaty of Utrecht. It still exists as a commercial company active in real estate, merchandising, and natural resources, with headquarters in Toronto.

Single item.

Access to this collection is unrestricted for the purpose of private study and personal research within the supervised environment and restrictions of the Library's Palaeography Room. Uncatalogued material may not be seen. Please contact the University Archivist for details.

Part of the Goldsmith's Library of Economic Literature, initially collected by Herbert Somerton Foxwell and presented by the Goldsmith's Company to the University of London in 1903.

Collection level description.

Manuscript quarto. Bound in calf, stamped on the front cover with the arms of the Company.

Compiled by Sarah Smith as part of the RSLP AIM25 Project.

Copies may be made, subject to the condition of the original. Copying must be undertaken by the Palaeography Room staff, who will need a minimum of 24 hours to process requests.