Simon fraser explorer nw canada

Scottish fur trader and British Columbia explorer (–)

For other people named Simon Fraser, see Simon Fraser (disambiguation).

Simon Fraser (20 May – 18 August ) was a Canadian explorer and fur trader who charted much of what is now the Canadian province of British Columbia.

He also built the first European settlement in British Columbia.

Employed by the Montreal-based North West Company, he had been by put in charge of all of the company's operations west of the Rocky Mountains.

Simon fraser explorer nw canada

He was responsible for building that area's first trading posts, and in , he explored what is now known as the Fraser River, which bears his name. Fraser's exploratory efforts were partly responsible for Canada's boundary later being established at the 49th parallel (after the War of ) since he, as a British subject, was the first European to establish permanent settlements in the area.

According to the historian Alexander Begg, Fraser "was offered a knighthood but declined t