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James McMillan (1783–1858) was a fur trader and explorer for the North West Company and Hudson's Bay Company. He led some of the earliest surveys of the lower Fraser River and founded Fort Langley for the HBC in 1827, and was its first Chief Trader. ==Early life and first Fraser River expedition== Born in Scotland, McMillan moved to North America at about age 20 and began work as a clerk for the North West Company in what is now Saskatchewan. Notably, he joined David Thompson's 1808 North West Company expedition west across the Rocky Mountains.〔("McMillan, James." ''Dictionary of Canadian Biography Online''. Gregory Thomas. )〕 Later, he assisted in purchasing Astoria, Oregon from the Pacific Fur Company.〔"McMillan, James". ''Encyclopedia of British Columbia'' (2000). Harbour Publishing.〕 In June 1824, following the merger of the North West Company and the HBC, McMillan accompanied HBC Governor George Simpson from York Factory far west to the lower Columbia River, arriving in Fort George on November 8 of that year. Simpson described McMillan as a “Staunch & Manly Friend and Fellow Traveller”.〔 Ten days later, Simpson assigned McMillan with commanding an expedition to survey the mouth of the Fraser River and assess it for navigability, settlement potential and agricultural suitability.〔("The Langley Story Illustrated", Don Waite. )〕 He led an exploration party of 40 men from Fort George to Puget Sound and on to Mud Bay, just east of present-day Point Roberts. On local advice of a shortcut, McMillan's party proceeded east up the Nicomekl River through what is now South Surrey, British Columbia where they then portaged to the Fraser River. The expedition traveled and surveyed up the Fraser River as far as Hatzic Slough, before returning to Fort George.〔("Journal of John Work". ''Washington Historical Quarterly III,'' 1912. )〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「James McMillan (fur trader)」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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