Russians in America/Hudson's Bay

Practically landlocked, Russia attempted to gain colonies that rivaled Europe
Vitus Bering was a Dutch explorer hired by the Russian navy to fight in the Baltic Sea
Afterwards, Peter the Great had Bering explore the easternmost reaches of the Russian Empire
Bering returned to Moscow in 1730, having reached the Kamchatka peninsula
Ivan Federov explored mainland Alaska in 1732, dying shortly after

Colonization
Russians established a profitable fur trade throughout the northern Pacific coast
The first permanent settlement was on Kodiak Island, 1786
Russia’s first joint stock company was chartered in 1799
Russian American Company existed until 1867, when the US bought Alaska
The RAC built settlements as far away as Hawaii
Most traders lived temporarily, or depended totally on the natives for pelts

Alutiiq
Russians depended on the Aleutian natives for trade, shelter, food, and geographical expertise
Many Aleutians do not consider themselves “Indian” or “Inuit”
Russian settlements only survived because of large Creole populations
The Tsar encouraged promyshlenikis to intermarry with Aleutians
By 1866, only 66 Russians lived in the colonies. Out of 1100 natives in the settlements, 900 were Creoles

Hudson’s Bay Company
Founded in 1666, the company explored the north and west parts of Canada and traded furs
To eliminate European competition, a series of forts and trading posts were built
In 1670, they were given a Royal Charter giving them sole trading rights around Hudson Bay. Competition flourished in surrounding areas.
The York Factory was built to enhance trade with natives and support exploration
Hudson’s Bay traders were the first Europeans to see prairies and bison

North West Company
Founded in Montreal in 1779, this rival to HBC controlled much of western Quebec
NWC also traded furs and blankets
Whereas the HBC tried to find an Arctic passage to Asia, the NWC continued farther south towards the Pacific
Frequent clashes with HBC interests sometimes led to open fighting
In 1821 the companies merged, controlling more than 3 million square miles of land

Russian American Company
RAC and HBC had years of territory disputes in the 1820s
When the US bought Alaska, RAC changed its identity to the Alaska Commercial Company
Later, it merged with the Hudson’s Bay Company
Then, it split off into a separate chain that took the name of the NWC. It still exists in rural areas
Some related companies include The Bay, Zellers, NWC, Simpson’s, Kmart
HBC is now owned by Lord & Taylor’s

Russian American Company