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Fortune's A River: The Collision of Empires in Northwest America
Winner of the John Lyman Book Award for best Canadian naval and maritime history
Finalist for the Nereus Writers' Trust Non-fiction Award
Finalist for the Roderick Haig-Brown Regional Prize, BC Book Prize
Longlisted for the 2007 Victoria Butler Book Prize
Honourable Mention for the Canadian Nautical Research Society's Keith Matthews Award
Fortune's a River is the most authoritative and readable account to date of just how British Columbia became British and how Oregon, Washington and Alaska became American. By the closing years of the 18th century, the stage was set for a major international confrontation over the Northwest Coast. Imperial Russia was firmly established in Alaska, Spain was extending its trade routes north from Mexico, Captain James Cook had claimed Northwest America for England and Captain Robert Gray had claimed the Columbia River region for the United States. Open warfare between Spain and England was narrowly averted during the Nootka Sound Controversy of 1789-1794, and again between Britain and the US in the War of 1812, when a British warship seized American property in Oregon.
In Fortune's a River , noted historian Barry Gough re-examines this Imperial struggle for possession of the future British Columbia and fully evokes its peculiar drama. It turned out the great powers were reluctant conquerors in this area. Russia and Spain withdrew of their own accord. Britain was in a position to dominate, but couldn't be bothered. The US vaguely wished to fulfill its manifest destiny by securing the Northwest Coast, but it was not a priority. In the end the battle was carried on by private enterprise and individuals of vision. Alexander Mackenzie established an overland route to the coast and with his partners Simon Fraser and David Thompson, set up a network of fur trading forts south to Oregon. US president Thomas Jefferson countered by sending out the Lewis and Clark expedition to strengthen American claims and an American entrepreneur, John Jacob Astor, established a lonely US outpost at Astoria. Gough examines each of the players in this territorial drama, bringing them fully to life and vividly recounting their hardships and struggles. Fortune's a River is a major historical work that reads like a wild west adventure.
Finalist for the Nereus Writers' Trust Non-fiction Award
Finalist for the Roderick Haig-Brown Regional Prize, BC Book Prize
Longlisted for the 2007 Victoria Butler Book Prize
Honourable Mention for the Canadian Nautical Research Society's Keith Matthews Award
Fortune's a River is the most authoritative and readable account to date of just how British Columbia became British and how Oregon, Washington and Alaska became American. By the closing years of the 18th century, the stage was set for a major international confrontation over the Northwest Coast. Imperial Russia was firmly established in Alaska, Spain was extending its trade routes north from Mexico, Captain James Cook had claimed Northwest America for England and Captain Robert Gray had claimed the Columbia River region for the United States. Open warfare between Spain and England was narrowly averted during the Nootka Sound Controversy of 1789-1794, and again between Britain and the US in the War of 1812, when a British warship seized American property in Oregon.
In Fortune's a River , noted historian Barry Gough re-examines this Imperial struggle for possession of the future British Columbia and fully evokes its peculiar drama. It turned out the great powers were reluctant conquerors in this area. Russia and Spain withdrew of their own accord. Britain was in a position to dominate, but couldn't be bothered. The US vaguely wished to fulfill its manifest destiny by securing the Northwest Coast, but it was not a priority. In the end the battle was carried on by private enterprise and individuals of vision. Alexander Mackenzie established an overland route to the coast and with his partners Simon Fraser and David Thompson, set up a network of fur trading forts south to Oregon. US president Thomas Jefferson countered by sending out the Lewis and Clark expedition to strengthen American claims and an American entrepreneur, John Jacob Astor, established a lonely US outpost at Astoria. Gough examines each of the players in this territorial drama, bringing them fully to life and vividly recounting their hardships and struggles. Fortune's a River is a major historical work that reads like a wild west adventure.
416 pages, Paperback
First published November 14, 2007
66 people want to read
About the author
Barry M. Gough
61 books2 followersBARRY GOUGH was professor of history at Wilfrid Laurier University in Ontario until retirement in 2004. An expert on the maritime history of the Pacific Ocean, he has published widely on Anglo-Canadian naval subjects.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
June 18, 2024
Having written previous biographies on early famous explorers and Canadian antiquity, historian Barry Gough details the lives of the men whom both attempted and succeeded in discovering and controlling the Pacific Northwest region of North America—all for the sake of their own glory and prestige—as well as their respective government’s push for domain, economy, and expansion. The clash of empires is all too inevitable as the Russians, Spanish, French, British, and Americans battle for control of the Columbia River, covering the present day regions of Oregon, Washington, and Canada—more specifically the territories pertaining to Nootka Sound and Vancouver Island. By conquering and setting up trade posts and forts in a first-come first-served manner in nearby Alaska, British Columbia, San Francisco, and even as far out as the Hawaiian Islands, they added to their government’s imperial dreams of a route of trade stretching to China and furthering their empire and expansion.
Gough begins chronologically by following the adventures of John Ledyard, whom began his career and fame as notably sailing with Captain James Cook right until the latter’s final demise in the hands of Hawaiian Islanders, and from there he discusses with Jefferson the possibility of charting past Kentucky and venturing on to the fabled Northwest Passage. This was miraculously decades before Lewis and Clark received their similar commission from the Virginian President, and unfortunately, it was a feat stopped short by Ledyard’s untimely death on the African continent.
Further on, we meet the Scottish-born son of Loyalists, Alexander Mackenzie, whom is spurred on through his exploratory ambitions by none other than the eccentric and aptly-named Peter Pond, a Connecticut Yankee with similar interests in travelling and the fur trade, and whose early maps of tributaries and rivers led many to believe he had indeed found the fictitious Northwest Passage. It’s fascinating to note the lengths each rival country went in order to obtain the necessary maps for waterways and topography, as well as the highly valued insight on the customs and language of the Native inhabitants. One instance in particular involved Spain funding a Scot and Welshman to conquer and pursue the Missouri River basin with secondary hopes of discovering the mythical 12th century legend of the lost Welsh Indians—to which they indeed go on to debunk:
He may have believed to the close of his days that his Spanish superiors had treated him less luxuriously than they should have. But he got more than Evans, and it is fair to state that had Evans not been among the Mandans that winter of 1796-97, the secrets of the Yellowstone and the upper reaches of the Missouri would not have escaped from the cloak of secrecy that Spain had placed upon the interior. It is strangely ironic that it took a displaced Highland Scot and a wandering Welsh ethnographer to lay bare, for Spain, the secrets of the Missouri River in northern latitudes. Mackay and Evans failed to complete their trade mission, but they made mighty contributions to discovery, providing remarkable additions to the geographical knowledge of the Missouri, especially to the descriptions of the particulars and courses of the rivers.
The second half of the book feels a bit slower and less intimate with the abundance of travelers being discussed, yet it’s interesting in the sense that it connects a string of traders and explorers together through their chance meetings with Native inhabitants, and vital published journals and travel diaries that accompanied their expeditions. Fortune’s A River uncovers the miraculously similar routes taken at various points around both the Rocky Mountain divide and Columbia region by the likes of Lewis and Clark, Simon Fraser, David Thompson, the Winship Brothers, and John Jacob Astor.
Gough is very efficient in summarizing each of the travels and excursions of the explorers, not losing the reader through a bungle of rudimentary facts and dates, and all the while keeping a prose that is discernible and promising. Superbly written and bringing brand new insight to late-eighteenth and early-nineteenth century exploration near the Pacific Northwest, Gough provides a follow up Appendix which focuses on the fabled Northwest Passage and it’s purported discovery by both land and sea journeys respectively. Maps and illustrations are provided throughout, and the interested reader will unquestionably benefit from Gough’s similarly praised biographies which chronicle a few of the men mentioned in this extraordinary account.
Gough begins chronologically by following the adventures of John Ledyard, whom began his career and fame as notably sailing with Captain James Cook right until the latter’s final demise in the hands of Hawaiian Islanders, and from there he discusses with Jefferson the possibility of charting past Kentucky and venturing on to the fabled Northwest Passage. This was miraculously decades before Lewis and Clark received their similar commission from the Virginian President, and unfortunately, it was a feat stopped short by Ledyard’s untimely death on the African continent.
Further on, we meet the Scottish-born son of Loyalists, Alexander Mackenzie, whom is spurred on through his exploratory ambitions by none other than the eccentric and aptly-named Peter Pond, a Connecticut Yankee with similar interests in travelling and the fur trade, and whose early maps of tributaries and rivers led many to believe he had indeed found the fictitious Northwest Passage. It’s fascinating to note the lengths each rival country went in order to obtain the necessary maps for waterways and topography, as well as the highly valued insight on the customs and language of the Native inhabitants. One instance in particular involved Spain funding a Scot and Welshman to conquer and pursue the Missouri River basin with secondary hopes of discovering the mythical 12th century legend of the lost Welsh Indians—to which they indeed go on to debunk:
He may have believed to the close of his days that his Spanish superiors had treated him less luxuriously than they should have. But he got more than Evans, and it is fair to state that had Evans not been among the Mandans that winter of 1796-97, the secrets of the Yellowstone and the upper reaches of the Missouri would not have escaped from the cloak of secrecy that Spain had placed upon the interior. It is strangely ironic that it took a displaced Highland Scot and a wandering Welsh ethnographer to lay bare, for Spain, the secrets of the Missouri River in northern latitudes. Mackay and Evans failed to complete their trade mission, but they made mighty contributions to discovery, providing remarkable additions to the geographical knowledge of the Missouri, especially to the descriptions of the particulars and courses of the rivers.
The second half of the book feels a bit slower and less intimate with the abundance of travelers being discussed, yet it’s interesting in the sense that it connects a string of traders and explorers together through their chance meetings with Native inhabitants, and vital published journals and travel diaries that accompanied their expeditions. Fortune’s A River uncovers the miraculously similar routes taken at various points around both the Rocky Mountain divide and Columbia region by the likes of Lewis and Clark, Simon Fraser, David Thompson, the Winship Brothers, and John Jacob Astor.
Gough is very efficient in summarizing each of the travels and excursions of the explorers, not losing the reader through a bungle of rudimentary facts and dates, and all the while keeping a prose that is discernible and promising. Superbly written and bringing brand new insight to late-eighteenth and early-nineteenth century exploration near the Pacific Northwest, Gough provides a follow up Appendix which focuses on the fabled Northwest Passage and it’s purported discovery by both land and sea journeys respectively. Maps and illustrations are provided throughout, and the interested reader will unquestionably benefit from Gough’s similarly praised biographies which chronicle a few of the men mentioned in this extraordinary account.
March 23, 2023
I've always felt that my home area of the Pacific Northwest was a sleepy late-comer on the historical scene of North America-- that nothing much really happened here for thousands of years as indigenous peoples simply went about their lives and traditions, until a couple of Americans, Lewis and Clark, stumbled down the west side of the Rocky Mountains in 1805. Then maybe things picked up slightly... However, Barry Gough, a history professor from the University of Victoria, and a prolific writer, put the lie to my assumptions. The history of the Pacific Northwest--it's European discovery, exploration, trade development and sovereignty decisions-- is rich with many colorful characters and interconnections with key events of the 18th and 19th centuries.
Perhaps my biggest complaint is that Gough discusses so many historical characters in this book, sometimes with a bit of professorial presumption, that it gets a bit overwhelming at times. Nonetheless, the story of the search for the famed northwest passage and the eventual primacy of the Columbia River in the Pacific Northwest, truly does present a diverse cast of characters.
From the north, the British-Canadian explorers such as Mackenzie and Thompson were driven to find expanded fur trade routes to the Pacific and potential Asian markets accessible from there. From the south, it was first the Spanish from as early as the 16th century who explored the western coast from their bases in Mexico and South America. From the far northeast, the Russians had a foothold in Alaska and attempted to form bases down the Pacific coast as far as California. From the near east and rapidly growing American Republic came other explorers both from their fur trade and the newly formed governments in Philadelphia and Washington. And sadly, stuck in the middle of all sides, the indigenous peoples, wondering how and why white men want to "buy" land with material goods. How does one "buy" parts of mother earth...?
Along with this diverse cast of characters, we have the driving events of the 18th and 19th century North America, many of which had direct implications for the exploration and development of the Columbia region-- Oregon Territory to the Americans and New Caledonia or British Columbia to the British-Canadians. We had voyages of Captain Cook in the 1770s, the concurrent American Revolution and birth of their republic, the fallout of the Napoleonic wars and the Louisiana Purchase, and the confusing War of 1812. We have the ongoing competition between the Hudson's Bay Company, with their charter that gave them the rights to the expansive Rupert's Land, and the upstart Northwest Company, eager to push out to the frontier lands to trade more directly with the native peoples. The famous Astor family got involved in the fur trade competition too!
If you have more than a passing interest in the history of the Pacific Northwest and are not shy of delving into rich details, this book will be a rewarding read for you.
Perhaps my biggest complaint is that Gough discusses so many historical characters in this book, sometimes with a bit of professorial presumption, that it gets a bit overwhelming at times. Nonetheless, the story of the search for the famed northwest passage and the eventual primacy of the Columbia River in the Pacific Northwest, truly does present a diverse cast of characters.
From the north, the British-Canadian explorers such as Mackenzie and Thompson were driven to find expanded fur trade routes to the Pacific and potential Asian markets accessible from there. From the south, it was first the Spanish from as early as the 16th century who explored the western coast from their bases in Mexico and South America. From the far northeast, the Russians had a foothold in Alaska and attempted to form bases down the Pacific coast as far as California. From the near east and rapidly growing American Republic came other explorers both from their fur trade and the newly formed governments in Philadelphia and Washington. And sadly, stuck in the middle of all sides, the indigenous peoples, wondering how and why white men want to "buy" land with material goods. How does one "buy" parts of mother earth...?
Along with this diverse cast of characters, we have the driving events of the 18th and 19th century North America, many of which had direct implications for the exploration and development of the Columbia region-- Oregon Territory to the Americans and New Caledonia or British Columbia to the British-Canadians. We had voyages of Captain Cook in the 1770s, the concurrent American Revolution and birth of their republic, the fallout of the Napoleonic wars and the Louisiana Purchase, and the confusing War of 1812. We have the ongoing competition between the Hudson's Bay Company, with their charter that gave them the rights to the expansive Rupert's Land, and the upstart Northwest Company, eager to push out to the frontier lands to trade more directly with the native peoples. The famous Astor family got involved in the fur trade competition too!
If you have more than a passing interest in the history of the Pacific Northwest and are not shy of delving into rich details, this book will be a rewarding read for you.
September 19, 2024
Barry Gough is a towering figure in the realm of Canadian maritime and naval history. As one of the country’s foremost historians in this field, his contributions have been recognized both nationally and internationally. Gough’s extensive body of work has garnered critical acclaim, with his numerous awards including the prestigious Queen’s Golden and Diamond Jubilee Medals, bestowed for his significant contributions to civic life in Canada. His academic credentials—Ph.D., Litt.D.h.c., LL.D.h.c.—further underscore his authority in the field. For anyone seeking reliable maritime historical information, Gough’s work is an indispensable resource.
Fortune’s A River is one of Gough’s standout contributions, having earned several accolades, including the John Lyman Book Award for best Canadian Naval Maritime History. I have kept this book close at hand since its release, frequently turning to it for insights, particularly during my research on Frances Barkley and the fur trade in Nootka Sound.
In Fortune’s A River, Gough provides a captivating exploration of the fierce competition for dominance along the Northwest Coast, examining the imperial struggles of Russia, Spain America, and Britain/Canada. The book delves into the complex dynamics that shaped the territorial boundaries of British Columbia, Alaska, Washington, and Oregon. Gough’s skillful unraveling of the tangled historical threads results in a compelling narrative that sheds light on this pivotal chapter in history.
Fortune’s A River is one of Gough’s standout contributions, having earned several accolades, including the John Lyman Book Award for best Canadian Naval Maritime History. I have kept this book close at hand since its release, frequently turning to it for insights, particularly during my research on Frances Barkley and the fur trade in Nootka Sound.
In Fortune’s A River, Gough provides a captivating exploration of the fierce competition for dominance along the Northwest Coast, examining the imperial struggles of Russia, Spain America, and Britain/Canada. The book delves into the complex dynamics that shaped the territorial boundaries of British Columbia, Alaska, Washington, and Oregon. Gough’s skillful unraveling of the tangled historical threads results in a compelling narrative that sheds light on this pivotal chapter in history.
July 13, 2008
Fascinating subject. Pity the maps were not bigger and more numerous.
December 28, 2012
Barry Gough's writing is complex and therefore a little hard to follow, but his stories are fascinating and he writes about the fur trade -- at least in this book he does. I enjoyed this book but it is not one you can put down and pick up a few days later.
February 2, 2010
Entertaining, informative.
January 9, 2013
Short of maps, which definitely would have helped but otherwise a decent enough read about the contest for the Pacific Northwest.
June 7, 2013
I didn't finish it. I guess if I were Canadian, I'd have found the historical content more relevant. The book is scholarly and well written...my bad.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews