1776-1862

American-born Canadian fur trader and explorer best known for his harrowing exploration of a trade route from Canada's far west to the Pacific Ocean in 1808. His path west followed along an unknown river, now known as the Fraser River in his honor. As a partner in the North West Company for much of his career, he was charged with establishing trading relations with the Indians in the undeveloped interior of New Caledonia (now British Columbia).