James Green Stewart (1825-1881)

James Green Stewart, a classic example of the often-neglected second rank of the northern exploratory corps, made a noteworthy contribution to the opening of the far northwest. Although his part in northern exploration has been obscured by the more dynamic and public careers of his superior officers...

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Published in:ARCTIC
Main Author: Coates, Ken
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: The Arctic Institute of North America 1986
Subjects:
Online Access:https://journalhosting.ucalgary.ca/index.php/arctic/article/view/65138
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record_format openpolar
institution Open Polar
collection University of Calgary Journal Hosting
op_collection_id ftunivcalgaryojs
language English
topic Biographies
Expeditions
Explorers
History
Hudson's Bay Company
Search for Franklin
Stewart
James Green
1825-1881
Tlingit Indians
Back River
Nunavut
Fort Selkirk
Yukon
Fort Simpson
N.W.T
Liard River
British Columbia/N.W.T./Yukon
Mackenzie River region
Norway House
Manitoba
Oxford House
spellingShingle Biographies
Expeditions
Explorers
History
Hudson's Bay Company
Search for Franklin
Stewart
James Green
1825-1881
Tlingit Indians
Back River
Nunavut
Fort Selkirk
Yukon
Fort Simpson
N.W.T
Liard River
British Columbia/N.W.T./Yukon
Mackenzie River region
Norway House
Manitoba
Oxford House
Coates, Ken
James Green Stewart (1825-1881)
topic_facet Biographies
Expeditions
Explorers
History
Hudson's Bay Company
Search for Franklin
Stewart
James Green
1825-1881
Tlingit Indians
Back River
Nunavut
Fort Selkirk
Yukon
Fort Simpson
N.W.T
Liard River
British Columbia/N.W.T./Yukon
Mackenzie River region
Norway House
Manitoba
Oxford House
description James Green Stewart, a classic example of the often-neglected second rank of the northern exploratory corps, made a noteworthy contribution to the opening of the far northwest. Although his part in northern exploration has been obscured by the more dynamic and public careers of his superior officers, most notably Robert Campbell, Stewart played a vital role in the Hudson's Bay Company's efforts to expand into the Yukon River valley. . Campbell had been active in the Liard and Pelly River regions for almost a decade and had just opened Fort Selkirk at the junction of the Pelly and Lewes (Yukon) rivers when Stewart joined him in 1848. As Campbell's assistant, Stewart faced the onerous task of helping to make this isolated fur post a viable enterprise. The challenge proved difficult and, ultimately, unsuccessful. Fort Selkirk was poorly positioned, for it thrust the Company's trade into the midst of trading networks maintained by the coastal Tlingit Indians, who, ironically, exchanged their furs at coastal points with other Hudson's Bay Company traders. The post suffered as well from its isolated position. Supplies had to be brought in along the Liard River, a violent and dangerous stream that claimed the lives of many Company tripmen. . in 1852, Campbell and Stewart were forced to abandon the post they had fought so hard to sustain, when Chilcat (Tlingit) Indians, long-time rivals of the Hudson's Bay Company traders at Fort Selkirk, attacked it. . for both Stewart and Campbell, the debacle at Fort Selkirk marked the end of their Yukon careers. Stewart, however, continued to serve in the North. He was stationed for short periods at Fort McPherson, Fort Carleton, and Fort Resolution. In 1855, Stewart was assigned to assist James Anderson's Back River expedition, sent to confirm reported sightings of the lost crew of John Franklin. The journey was wracked by discord between the two principal men. Anderson repeatedly overruled Stewart, challenging his selection of guides and route. Bad luck and poor planning plagued the trip throughout. Anderson claimed that Stewart had used poor judgement in securing bark for the canoes, which proved incapable of handling the rough waters of the Back River and the heavy ice conditions along the coast. The troubles continued at the end of the expedition, when Stewart was accused of lacking initiative and chastised for not following orders. . The experience severely damaged Stewart's reputation, which clearly had peaked during his Yukon career. Stewart remained with the Company, rising to the rank of Chief Factor in 1869. He served at Cumberland House, Oxford House, and Norway House before being dropped from the Hudson's Bay Company's list of officers in the deed poll of 1871. James Green Stewart died 10 years later, at the age of 55.
format Article in Journal/Newspaper
author Coates, Ken
author_facet Coates, Ken
author_sort Coates, Ken
title James Green Stewart (1825-1881)
title_short James Green Stewart (1825-1881)
title_full James Green Stewart (1825-1881)
title_fullStr James Green Stewart (1825-1881)
title_full_unstemmed James Green Stewart (1825-1881)
title_sort james green stewart (1825-1881)
publisher The Arctic Institute of North America
publishDate 1986
url https://journalhosting.ucalgary.ca/index.php/arctic/article/view/65138
long_lat ENVELOPE(-134.826,-134.826,67.433,67.433)
ENVELOPE(-113.691,-113.691,61.049,61.049)
ENVELOPE(-137.390,-137.390,62.775,62.775)
ENVELOPE(-121.320,-121.320,61.808,61.808)
ENVELOPE(-67.417,-67.417,-66.850,-66.850)
ENVELOPE(-137.337,-137.337,62.783,62.783)
geographic Fort McPherson
Fort Resolution
Fort Selkirk
Fort Simpson
Liard
Mackenzie River
Norway
Nunavut
Pelly River
Yukon
geographic_facet Fort McPherson
Fort Resolution
Fort Selkirk
Fort Simpson
Liard
Mackenzie River
Norway
Nunavut
Pelly River
Yukon
genre Arctic
Back River
Fort McPherson
Fort Resolution
Fort Simpson
Liard River
Mackenzie river
Nunavut
Pelly River
tlingit
Yukon river
Yukon
genre_facet Arctic
Back River
Fort McPherson
Fort Resolution
Fort Simpson
Liard River
Mackenzie river
Nunavut
Pelly River
tlingit
Yukon river
Yukon
op_source ARCTIC; Vol. 39 No. 3 (1986): September: 195–284; 270-271
1923-1245
0004-0843
op_relation https://journalhosting.ucalgary.ca/index.php/arctic/article/view/65138/49052
https://journalhosting.ucalgary.ca/index.php/arctic/article/view/65138
container_title ARCTIC
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spelling ftunivcalgaryojs:oai:journalhosting.ucalgary.ca:article/65138 2023-05-15T14:19:15+02:00 James Green Stewart (1825-1881) Coates, Ken 1986-01-01 application/pdf https://journalhosting.ucalgary.ca/index.php/arctic/article/view/65138 eng eng The Arctic Institute of North America https://journalhosting.ucalgary.ca/index.php/arctic/article/view/65138/49052 https://journalhosting.ucalgary.ca/index.php/arctic/article/view/65138 ARCTIC; Vol. 39 No. 3 (1986): September: 195–284; 270-271 1923-1245 0004-0843 Biographies Expeditions Explorers History Hudson's Bay Company Search for Franklin Stewart James Green 1825-1881 Tlingit Indians Back River Nunavut Fort Selkirk Yukon Fort Simpson N.W.T Liard River British Columbia/N.W.T./Yukon Mackenzie River region Norway House Manitoba Oxford House info:eu-repo/semantics/article info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion other 1986 ftunivcalgaryojs 2022-03-22T21:22:12Z James Green Stewart, a classic example of the often-neglected second rank of the northern exploratory corps, made a noteworthy contribution to the opening of the far northwest. Although his part in northern exploration has been obscured by the more dynamic and public careers of his superior officers, most notably Robert Campbell, Stewart played a vital role in the Hudson's Bay Company's efforts to expand into the Yukon River valley. . Campbell had been active in the Liard and Pelly River regions for almost a decade and had just opened Fort Selkirk at the junction of the Pelly and Lewes (Yukon) rivers when Stewart joined him in 1848. As Campbell's assistant, Stewart faced the onerous task of helping to make this isolated fur post a viable enterprise. The challenge proved difficult and, ultimately, unsuccessful. Fort Selkirk was poorly positioned, for it thrust the Company's trade into the midst of trading networks maintained by the coastal Tlingit Indians, who, ironically, exchanged their furs at coastal points with other Hudson's Bay Company traders. The post suffered as well from its isolated position. Supplies had to be brought in along the Liard River, a violent and dangerous stream that claimed the lives of many Company tripmen. . in 1852, Campbell and Stewart were forced to abandon the post they had fought so hard to sustain, when Chilcat (Tlingit) Indians, long-time rivals of the Hudson's Bay Company traders at Fort Selkirk, attacked it. . for both Stewart and Campbell, the debacle at Fort Selkirk marked the end of their Yukon careers. Stewart, however, continued to serve in the North. He was stationed for short periods at Fort McPherson, Fort Carleton, and Fort Resolution. In 1855, Stewart was assigned to assist James Anderson's Back River expedition, sent to confirm reported sightings of the lost crew of John Franklin. The journey was wracked by discord between the two principal men. Anderson repeatedly overruled Stewart, challenging his selection of guides and route. Bad luck and poor planning plagued the trip throughout. Anderson claimed that Stewart had used poor judgement in securing bark for the canoes, which proved incapable of handling the rough waters of the Back River and the heavy ice conditions along the coast. The troubles continued at the end of the expedition, when Stewart was accused of lacking initiative and chastised for not following orders. . The experience severely damaged Stewart's reputation, which clearly had peaked during his Yukon career. Stewart remained with the Company, rising to the rank of Chief Factor in 1869. He served at Cumberland House, Oxford House, and Norway House before being dropped from the Hudson's Bay Company's list of officers in the deed poll of 1871. James Green Stewart died 10 years later, at the age of 55. Article in Journal/Newspaper Arctic Back River Fort McPherson Fort Resolution Fort Simpson Liard River Mackenzie river Nunavut Pelly River tlingit Yukon river Yukon University of Calgary Journal Hosting Fort McPherson ENVELOPE(-134.826,-134.826,67.433,67.433) Fort Resolution ENVELOPE(-113.691,-113.691,61.049,61.049) Fort Selkirk ENVELOPE(-137.390,-137.390,62.775,62.775) Fort Simpson ENVELOPE(-121.320,-121.320,61.808,61.808) Liard ENVELOPE(-67.417,-67.417,-66.850,-66.850) Mackenzie River Norway Nunavut Pelly River ENVELOPE(-137.337,-137.337,62.783,62.783) Yukon ARCTIC 39 3