History
History of the SS Beaver in Canada
One hundred and seventy years have come and gone since the SS Beaver sailed for Vancouver from London England in the year 1835. She was the first steamship commissioned by the Hudson’s Bay Company to replace their outdated sailing fleet.
It was Sir George Simpson, Governor of the Northern Division of The Honourable Company for over 40 years, who was responsible for this decision.
The Beaver
played a major role in the history of British
Columbia. Although
she served
first as a trading and policing ship for
the
HBC she
was much more than that. She carried James
Douglas to Sitka, Alaska to discuss trade
and boundaries with the Russian Governor
of Alaska, bore Sir George Simpson on many
fact finding missions along the coast, and
participated in the discovery of coal at
Fort Rupert and the founding of Fort Victoria.
She carried the official party to Fort Langley
for the proclamation of the Colony of British
Columbia. She was then loaned to the United
States to aid in their local Indian Wars.
Upon her return, she would help deliver
Justice in the Colony, when BC' s first
murder trials were held upon her deck.
In 1862 she was commissioned as Her Majesty's Hired Surveying Vessel SS BEAVER , and under the command of Captain Daniel Pender would continue the work of charting the coast of BC, a job commenced by Captain George Vancouver in 1792. Over 1000 Miles of BC coastline were charted by her over the next seven years.
By 1874, the sad little paddle wheeler was growing old and her final years were spent in commercial trade as a renowned freighter/tugboat. She was sold, resold, abused and let go, until finally on a stormy, foggy night in July 1888, the SS Beaver ran aground at Prospect Point off Stanley Park Vancouver.
Twenty four
books have been written about the SS BEAVER
and more information can be found in local
libraries. Artifacts from this pioneer steamer including
one of her boilers can be found at the Vancouver
Maritime Museum.
To give the
BEAVER 's history and importance in proper
perspective, I quote the author of SS. Beaver,
the ship that saved the West, D. Pethick,"
It was much more than an interesting ship,
it helped to lay the foundation of BC, and
hence Canada, and as such it deserves the
attention of all who today inhabit them
.."
Photos courtesy of BC Archives