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Jean-Baptiste “John” McLoughlin, Hudson’s Bay Company chief factor, superintendent of the Columbia District, fur trader, physician, merchant (born 19 October 1784 near Rivière-du-Loup, QC; died 3 September 1857 in Oregon City, Oregon). John McLoughlin has long been known as "the Father of Oregon."
Career at the Hudson’s Bay Company
John McLoughlin studied medicine, but in 1803 he joined the North West Company (NWC), becoming a partner in 1814. Greatly worried by the rivalry between the NWC and the Hudson’s Bay Company (HBC), McLoughlin attempted to bring about a settlement. When a coalition between the two businesses took place, under other auspices, in 1821 he became a chief factor in the company.
Governor Sir George Simpson, concerned about the Columbia District, put McLoughlin in charge when he visited it in 1824–25, and McLoughlin was its superintendent for two decades.
In later years differences arose between McLoughlin and Simpson over how to defeat American trading ships on the coast and how to deal with American immigrants to Oregon. McLoughlin favoured a chain of forts along the coast while Simpson favoured the use of ships. Simpson wanted the immigrants treated ruthlessly; McLoughlin, the man on the spot and a humanitarian, dealt with them kindly, realizing that an eventual American takeover of the area was inevitable. The two finally parted company over the murder of McLoughlin's son at Fort Stikine in 1842.
After a prolonged dispute, John McLoughlin retired in 1846 and lived the rest of his life in Oregon City. His holdings included flour and sawmills and he engaged in an export trade in lumber and other commodities. He has long been known as "the Father of Oregon."
