Beaver Club
Founded in Montreal in 1775 by the partners of the North
West Company. It opened with nineteen members, and at one time the
registry showed ninety-three members, with eleven honorary members.
Among them were such famous fur traders and explorers as Alexander
Mackenzie and his cousin Roderick, the three Frobishers, Alexander Henry
and his nephew of the same name, Simon McTavish, James Finlay, Simon
Fraser, John Stuart,
nd David Thompson. The motto of the club was
"Fortitude in Difficulties." No one was admitted who had not made a
journey to the North-West and wintered there. The club entertained many
distinguished guests, including Sir John Franklin, Lord Selkirk,
Washington Irving, and the Earl of Dalhousie. The club was disbanded in
1824 after the union of the North West and Hudson's Bay Companies. An
effort to revive it in 1827 proved unsuccessful. =Index=: (Mackenzie / Selkirk / Simpson era) Founded
by the partners of the North West Company, 139; lavish hospitality and
boisterous banquets, 139. (General Brock era) Famous social club at Montreal, 99.