John McLoughlin

John McLoughlin [muk LOF lin] played a leading part in settling Oregon Territory. He was a partner in the North West Company, and had charge of Fort William. After the North West and Hudson's Bay companies merged, he directed their business in the Oregon country from 1824 to 1826. He developed trading posts and friendly relations with the Native Americans of the region. He had to resign for helping new settlers at his company's expense.

Chronology of His Life and Career
1784	Born in Rivière du Loup, St. Lawrence (now Quebec), Canada.
1798	Began a medical apprenticeship.
1803	Attached himself to the North West Company as resident physician at Fort William, on Lake Superior.
1812	Married Marguerite Waden McKay.
1821	Put in charge of Hudson's Bay Company's Fort William.
1824	Became Chief Factor of the Hudson's Bay Company's Columbia District, with headquarters at Fort George, at the mouth of the Columbia River.
1825	Headquarters moved to Fort Vancouver.
1827	Oversaw the building of the first lumber mill in the Pacific Northwest.
1829	The Hudson's Bay Company took a land claim at "The Falls" and encouraged former trappers to settle in nearby French Prairie.
1834	Welcomed and aided Jason Lee.
1836	Welcomed Marcus and Narcissa Whitman to Fort Vancouver.
1842	Surveyed and laid out the town of Oregon City (replacing the former name of Willamette Falls).
1842-1845	Protected, aided and supplied the first four American migrations into Oregon Country.
1844	Oregon City incorporated by the Provisional Government.
1846	Resigned from the Hudson's Bay Company and took up residence at Oregon City.
1849	With Robert Moore, made application to the county court to establish a ferry across the Willamette River between Oregon and Linn counties.
1850	Stripped of his land claim near Willamette Falls by a clause inserted into the Oregon Donation Land Law.
1851	Became an American citizen.
1851	Elected Mayor of Oregon City.
1857	Died.
1941	McLoughlin's home designated a National Historic Site.
1953	A statue of McLoughlin was unveiled in the National Statuary Hall in Washington, D.C.
1957	McLoughlin given the title "Father of Oregon" by the Oregon Legislative Assembly.