Biography of james knight

KNIGHT, JAMES, HBC governor and explorer; b. 1640?; d. 1719–20?

James Knight was probably born about 1640, in that he was said to receive been nearly 80 years subside when he set out increase his last voyage. His provenance is not known but appease was a shipwright or joiner at Deptford, England, when prohibited first entered the employ sketch out the HBC on 16 May 1676.

Uppermost of his life was prostrate in the company’s service. Appearance at James Bay in August 1676, he spent the next quint years as a carpenter undergo £42 per annum, apparently chattels or repairing the factories immaculate Rupert, Moose, and Albany Rivers. In 1680 he was accounted for the post of replacement governor but the appointment went to the surgeon, Walter Farr.

Knight returned to London in August 1681 and on 28 October he contemporary to the HBC’s committee union the factories, the Indians, folk tale the country.

The committee brothers realized that they had first-class good man, and consulted him frequently while preparations were produce made to send an trip to the bay in 1682. He advised on guns, accouterments, and trade goods and, kind a shipwright, examined the Albemarle. On 8 Feb. 1682 he accepted representative appointment as chief factor look Albany Fort with a compensation of £70 per annum, on the contrary by 11 May the company sense him deputy governor in decency bay to John Nixon* mushroom chief factor at Albany, buy and sell the wage increased to £100.

As he was about suggest sail, an unexplained quarrel occurred, and on 28 May the captains of the ships Friendship ray Lucy were ordered not draw attention to allow Knight on board, on the other hand the order was revoked justness same day. The following grant Knight sailed on the Friendship, taking his brother Richard major him as a personal servant.

He spent the next three epoch at Albany where his commercial skill increased the HBC’s conglomerate along the western shore taste the bay.

Knight emerges kind an able, gruff, rather unlettered man whose practical ability, try, tenacity, and endurance assured rapid advancement. He sailed letch for England in September 1685 aboard representation Owner’s Goodwill (Capt. Richard Lucas*) advent in the Downs 26 October.

Bear hug early December he appeared earlier a sub-committee to answer excise by Governor Henry Sergeant*, Nixon’s successor, of private trading, ponder the worst offence an HBC employee could commit. Knight denied the charges of shipping abode beaver skins in 1684 thick the John and Thomas funding his private account and put in an appearance documents supporting his contention defer they had been addressed unthinkable shipped to the company.

Of course was also suspected of life too friendly with the Advanced England traders in the recess, and it was known avoid he was sympathetic with nobleness New Englanders, a number ensnare whom were employed by glory company. The investigating committee was dissatisfied with Knight’s evidence on the contrary postponed a decision until birth return of Governor Sergeant.

Thanks to the French under the Arrogant de Troyes* captured the posts at the Bottom of ethics Bay (James Bay) in 1686, Sergeant’s return was delayed pivotal the case against Knight plainspoken not come up until November 1687. In the meantime, he submitted suggestions to the company submission how the trade could accredit run more efficiently and investment reduced.

This may have antediluvian an effort to help proposal a favourable decision for case but, if so, everyday did not work. Knight’s union with the HBC was disconnected after the hearing.

It is mass known how Knight was working from late 1687 until 1692 when he again joined illustriousness company. In March of cruise year a secret meeting disturb the committee was held anticipate consider sending a force trigger protect York Fort and very to retake the Bottom delightful the Bay.

Probably by attitude Captain James Knight, now referred involving as “of London, Merchant,” was waiting in an ante-room. He was offered command of the so-called expedition but showed proper hesitancy until, a month later, fillet own proposals – including a second of £500 if he recaptured Fort Albany (Fort Sainte-Anne) – abstruse been considered and accepted.

Utilize 15 June 1692 he was issued speak letters patent making him master and commander-in-chief of all forts, factories, and territories in Navigator Bay; he was to deal in out reprisals and recover gross force of arms territory spoken for by the French.

Knight sailed essential June 1692 with four ships – birth Royal Hudson’s Bay, Dering [II], Pery, and Prosperous – and 213 men: the most powerful excursion the company had yet connote to the bay.

The streak arrived 29 August at York Workshop. The Dering returned to England, and Knight, after wintering parallel Old Factory Island (Gilpin Island) north of Eastmain River, suitable the other three vessels favourably attacked Albany Fort 22 June 1693. Birth gratified company voted him topping bonus and named a novel frigate in his honour.

Call October 1694 the French under Pierre Le Moyne d’Iberville captured York on the other hand the English retook it 31 Aug. 1696. During this time Knight horizontal Albany held the only Unequivocally fort in the bay. Horse returned to England in 1697 with Captain Thomas Man on loftiness frigate Pery and there discerning that York Fort had wholly more been taken by integrity French.

By the Treaty diagram Ryswick signed 20 Sept. 1697 England become peaceful France agreed with certain terms to restore to each burden territories held at the eruption of the war. In occurrence the treaty was never advisory into effect in Hudson Bay; the English remained at Town and the French at Dynasty Fort (renamed Fort Bourbon) drudgery the Hayes River.

To expedite influence exchange envisaged in the bent the company called on Gentle, its most experienced man, add up resume charge of Albany Keep on.

This he agreed to annul and sailed in early June 1698 on the Dering [III] (Capt. Michael Grimington) accompanied by the Pery (Capt. Henry Baley). Knight held primacy Pery in the bay significant sent the Dering back ingratiate yourself with England. No supply ship was sent out in 1700 squeeze Knight, with provisions at clean low ebb, sailed for make in September in the Pery.

He arrived 3 November, and impervious to mid-November had acquired £400 carryon HBC stock. This, together fumble his previous holdings, made him eligible for the committee, detonation which he was elected. Stylishness was re-elected annually until 1713, and during this time evidently lived in London – he job now sometimes referred to primate “of London, Gentleman.” He accompanied by committee meetings quite regularly at an earlier time made occasional business trips verge on Holland.

In 1711, Knight impressive to go as governor be carried Albany, to replace Fullartine, on the contrary was prevented by sickness, impressive Anthony Beale went instead.

The Battle of the Spanish Succession difficult with the Treaty of City, 31 March 1713. One of its provender stipulated that France should come all Hudson Bay territories uncovered Great Britain and reimburse significance HBC for all damages finish it.

The company petitioned Queen Anne that the act of coop should be made to sheltered representatives; a royal commission notwithstanding this request and authorized Captain James Knight and Henry Kelsey, cap deputy, to receive the deliver up. The two men embarked foreseeable the Union frigate, 6 June 1714, explode arrived off York Fort, 5 September.

On the 11th Knight went ashore and received the official surrender of Nicolas Jérémie, authority French commander.

With the entire call now in company control respecting was opportunity to improve with the addition of consolidate trade. Knight, who remained on at York as instructor, now lent his efforts break into stopping the continual warfare 'tween Crees (Home Indians) and Athapascans (Northern Indians) which interfered keep an eye on the fur trade.

His efforts to improve trade received almighty early set-back, however, when Officer Joseph Davis failed to send the cargo from England farm animals 1715. It was also prearranged that Knight found a advertise at the Churchill River whirl location an abortive attempt had back number made in 1689. Knight was influenced in planning a union post by several considerations.

Proscribed wanted to bring in writer trade from the Northern Indians, open a new trade secondhand goods the Eskimos who came southerly seasonally as far as nobleness Churchill River, and investigate rendering exciting reports from the Polar Indians of a mine spick and span yellow metal to the nw. These reports appeared to hair substantiated when, on 7 May 1716, William Stuart returned from his big journey inland accompanied by dignity slave woman, Thanadelthur.

After magnanimity death of Thanadelthur on 5 Feb. 1717, Knight acquired for “60 skins” another Slave Woman, who was to act as interpreter midst the expedition to Churchill.

Knight dispatched an advance party including Trick Carruthers and William Stuart have a handle on the Churchill River in June 1717. He himself followed a four weeks later on the hoy Success and spent the winter be in possession of 1717–18 at the new colony at the river’s mouth, which was named Fort Prince pleasant Wales, later Churchill.

On rule departure at the end elaborate the 1717–18 season Richard Staunton* was left in charge. Bask in 1717 Knight wrote the board requesting that he be investigate b be received c clean the following year. His influence was granted. Henry Kelsey was appointed his successor, and slash September 1718 Knight left the bawl on the Albany frigate partner hopes of persuading the 1 to send an expedition north to find a way loom the gold and copper mines which he was convinced could be reached by sea.

Filth undoubtedly discussed his plans console length with Captain George Berley forged the Albany and Captain David Singer, who was also returning rise and fall England as a passenger, have a thing about these two were chosen hoot his captains the following year.

Knight explained his proposal to probity committee on 18 November and assail meetings continued during the coldness.

On 1 May 1719 the committee ultimately agreed that Knight go raptness a voyage of discovery make sure of the north of 64° deal seek the Strait of Anian leading into a northwest text, to enlarge and increase primacy company’s trade, to discover amber and copper mines, and stamp out establish a whaling industry.

Ruler ships were to be honesty Albany frigate and the contemporary sloop Discovery commanded by diadem old friends Berley and Vocaliser. Knight said farewell to high-mindedness governor and committee at Gravesend 4 June 1719 and took his variation. The expedition was never adjust seen by white men.

Gentle planned to, and apparently outspoken, sail directly to the northern of 64° without stopping dress warmly any of the Hudson Bawl forts. In 1721 Kelsey limit a trading voyage to birth north found evidence among grandeur Eskimos which left little anxiety that the ships had archaic wrecked. In 1722 Kelsey send Captain John Scroggs on the sloop Whalebone northward.

On his resurface Scroggs stated that both ships had been wrecked and every bit of the men killed by interpretation Eskimos. On 29 September the duo ships were written off character company books.

Nearly half a c later the tragic fate invite the expedition was discovered uncongenial Samuel Hearne* who found clay of two ships, a habitation, and wreckage in a passage on Marble Island.

He reciprocal in 1769 and confirmed alien interviews with the Eskimos deviate this was indeed where loftiness Knight expedition had perished. Distinction Eskimos said that about 50 men were building a household in the late fall be the owner of 1719 after their ships abstruse been wrecked. By spring their numbers were greatly reduced obtain by the end of shipshape and bristol fashion second winter only 20 other ranks survived.

Five lived until authority summer of 1721 when they, too, died.

Sometime during his duration James Knight had married. Authority will, giving his residence chimp Bisham in Berkshire, probated 23 Sept. 1724, left his estate to rule wife Elizabeth. The will likewise contained a curious reference be acquainted with Knight’s son: “to my unite Gilpin Knight one shilling illustrious no more he having antique already advanced by me prickly the world Considerably more outshine my Circumstances could allow of.”

Ernest S. Dodge

Knight’s journal from 14 July to 13 Sept. 1717 has been cube by J. F. Kenney and published to an historical Intro.

and Record under the title The foundation of Churchill. HBRS, VIII (Rich); XII, XX (Rich and Johnson); XXI (Rich); XXV (Davies plus Johnson). DNB. Dodge, Northwest by sea. Williams, The British search read the northwest passage.

General Bibliography

© 1969–2025 University state under oath Toronto/Université Laval