Tomison, William National Historic Person
Elk Point, Alberta
Aerial view of York Factory
(© Bibliothèque et Archives Canada / Library and Archives Canada / PA-041571)
Address :
13 Km southeast of Elk Point on Highway 646, Elk Point, Alberta
Recognition Statute:
Historic Sites and Monuments Act (R.S.C., 1985, c. H-4)
Designation Date:
1974-05-18
Life Date:
1739 to 1811
Other Name(s):
-
Tomison, William
(Designation Name)
Importance:
Hudson's Bay Company trader, "Inland Master" along the Saskatchewan River (1786-99)
Plaque(s)
Existing plaque: Fort George Buckingham House Provincial Historic Site 13 Km southeast of Elk Point on Highway 646, Elk Point, Alberta
A dominant figure in the western fur trade for over 30 years, the Orkneyman William Tomison joined the Hudson's Bay Company as labourer in 1760 and, seven years later became one of the Company's first inland travellers from York Factory. By 1778 he took charge of Cumberland House. As "inland master" from 1786 to 1803 he led the competition against the North West Company along the Saskatchewan. He was responsible for establishing Buckingham House (1792) and Edmonton House (1795), each his company's most westerly post of its day. Tomison retired to Orkney in 1811.