William MacTavish (1815-1870)

Governor of Assiniboia (Red River Settlement) (1859-1870) and of Rupert’s Land.

Born in Scotland on 29 March 1815, nephew of John George MacTavish of the North West Company, later of the Hudson’s Bay Company. He came to Rupert’s Land as a clerk in the Hudson’s Bay Company in 1833. In 1851 he was made a Chief Factor and in 1858 he became Governor of Assiniboia. On the death of Sir George Simpson in 1860 he was appointed acting Governor of Rupert’s Land. Permanently appointed in 1864, he was Governor in 1869-70 at the time of the transfer of Rupert’s Land to Canada.

MacTavish died at Liverpool, England on 23 July 1870.

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Profile revised: 26 August 2008

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