Simon Fraser

Simon Fraser was the youngest son of the Brigadier General Simon Fraser of Balnain, who died following the Battle at Saratoga during the American Wars of Independence. Following the death of his father, young Simon moved to Canada with his mother. He began a career with the North West Company.

At 25 years old, Simon Fraser became a full partner in the North West Company and became Sir Alexander Mackenzie's successor. Although Mackenzie had discovered a route through the Rocky Mountains, he had no interest in returning to establish trading posts in British Columbia. Simon Fraser established a trading post on the other side of the Rockies at Trout Lake.

In 1808, Fraser led an expedition to follow the Great south-flowing river that Mackenzie had abandoned at Quesnel (Kweh-NEL) when he had turned west. Fraser hoped that the river could be travelled by canoe all the way to the Pacific Ocean.

The expedition's four canoes were thrown about by vicious rapids and pitched through close canyons at breakneck speeds. After a month of terrifying near misses and nerve-shredding rescues, Fraser and his men abandoned their canoes at Hell’s Gate Canyon and proceeded on foot. 

Once they reached calmer water further downriver, Fraser bought boats from some local Natives. After following the river for 850 miles, the expedition finally passed through what is now the Fraser Valley and reached the delta where the City of Vancouver was later built.

Fraser's expedition never reached the Pacific Ocean. A fierce tribe of Musqueam warriors intercepted them before they could make the last stretch of their journey and they were forced to turn back.

They turned north, stopping at the junction of the Fraser and Nechako rivers, establishing Fort George (Prince George). Simon Fraser named the territory 'New Caledonia' after his parent’s homeland.