Pacific Fur Company
Organized by John Jacob Astor in 1810. Sometimes
known as the Astor Fur Company. Astor had made a fortune in the fur
trade, and formed the plan of extending his operations to the Pacific
coast, and building a post at the mouth of the Columbia. He suggested to
the North West Company that the project be undertaken jointly, but the
Company declining the offer, he induced several of its partners and
employees to join him.
hese men sailed to the Columbia by way of Cape
Horn, while another party went overland by the route followed by Lewis
and Clark. Astoria was built in 1811, at the mouth of the Columbia, but
the energetic competition of the North West Company, and complications
arising out of the War of 1812, defeated Astor's plans. =Index=: (Sir James Douglas era)
Logical sequel to journey of Lewis and Clark, 68; formed in 1810 by John
Jacob Astor, 68; made famous by Washington Irving, 68; character and
extent of its operations, 69-71; employees recruited in Montreal, 70;
expeditions sent out, 71. See also Astoria. =Bib.=: Cox, Adventures
on the Columbia River; Ross, Fur Hunters of the Far West; Franchere,
Voyage to North-West Coast of America; Irving, Astoria.