Work, John, 1792-1861

Work, born in Ireland, entered the service of the Hudson's Bay Company in 1814, was assigned to the Columbia District in 1823, appointed a Chief Trader in 1830, and after an eventful life died at Victoria, British Columbia.

John Work (originally "Wark") was born in Cork, Ireland and joined the Hudson's Bay Company in 1814. He served first at York Factory and then in the Severn River district. In 1823 he was sent to the Pacific coast, for which region he became chief trader in 1830, and was stationed at Fort Simpson from 1832-1852. He was appointed chief factor in 1846 and was frequently in charge of trading missions, including one to Sacramento, California. From 1853 until his death he lived at Victoria and was a member of the Vancouver Island House of Assembly.

John Work (originally spelled 'Wark') was born around the year 1792 in Donegal County, Ireland. In 1814 he ran away from home and came to Canada as an employee of the Hudson's Bay Company at York Factory. He rose from steward to clerk and was sent from Hudson's Bay to Fort George (near present day Astoria, Or.) in July of 1823, along with Peter Skene Ogden. In 1824 he served with an expedition, headed by James McMillan, to find the entrance to the Fraser River. Along the way he kept a detailed journal, as he would on future ventures. He worked throughout the upper Columbia River area and supervised the building of Fort Colvile in 1825-1826. He was promoted to Chief Trader in 1830 and succeeded Ogden as head of the Snake River Brigade. In 1831 and 1832 he headed an expedition from Fort Nez Perce to the headwaters of the Missouri River, and back. He then led a hunting expedition in 1832 and 1833 to the Bonaventure Valley by way of Ogden's River, and in 1834 traveled southward from Fort Vancouver to the area that is now Oregon. In late 1834 he left Fort Vancouver by steamer for an exploring mission to the northwest coast of Canada, participated in the building of Fort Simpson, and returned in October of the following year.

Work headed the Hudson's Bay Company operations at Fort Simpson from 1835 to 1849, being promoted to Chief Factor in 1846. He settled eventually on Vancouver Island and served in the island's first government and legislative council. He died in Victoria, B.C., in 1861 at the age of 70.

John Work (originally spelled "Wark") was born around the year 1792 in Donegal County, Ireland. In 1814 he ran away from home and came to Canada as an employee of the Hudson's Bay Company at York Factory. He rose from steward to clerk and was sent from Hudson's Bay to Fort George (near present day Astoria, Or.) in July of 1823, along with Peter Skene Ogden. In 1824 he served with an expedition, headed by James McMillan, to find the entrance to the Fraser River. Along the way he kept a detailed journal, as he would on future ventures. He worked throughout the upper Columbia River area and supervised the building of Fort Colvile in 1825-1826. He was promoted to Chief Trader in 1830 and succeeded Ogden as head of the Snake River Brigade. In 1831 and 1832 he headed an expedition from Fort Nez Perce to the headwaters of the Missouri River, and back. He then led a hunting expedition in 1832 and 1833 to the Bonaventure Valley by way of Ogden's River, and in 1834 traveled southward from Fort Vancouver to the area that is now Oregon. In late 1834 he left Fort Vancouver by steamer for an exploring mission to the northwest coast of Canada, participated in the building of Fort Simpson, and returned in October of the following year.

Work headed the Hudson's Bay Company operations at Fort Simpson from 1835 to 1849, being promoted to Chief Factor in 1846. He settled eventually on Vancouver Island and served in the island's first government and legislative council. He died in Victoria, B.C., in 1861 at the age of 70.