David Thompson

Profession: Explorer and Cartographer

Nationality:

Biography: Born into poverty in a Welsh family in London, David Thompson was educated at a charity school and apprenticed to the Hudson Bay Company (HBC) in 1784 at 14 years old. An unpromising start for a man who went on to become one of the great geographers of North America, mapping more of Canada than any other individual.

Thompson experienced a deeply religious episode as a young man, where he later described playing draughts with the devil. This incident had a profound effect on the rest of his life. In 1790 he was trained in surveying and astronomy by Philip Turnor, chief surveyor to the HBC. Although appointed HBC surveyor in 1795 he then joined their rival, the North West company and went on to work for them for 16 years mapping the 49th parallel, the border between Canada and the US. He went on to map the north and the west coast.

Thompson's work was notable for the way he recorded the way of life of the First Nations people and he learnt a number of their languages. His later years were more tragic. He moved to Montreal but lost his savings and ended his days in poverty. His maps were sold to a London publisher for very little and not published under his name. However his reputation was revived posthumously by the publication of his travel narrative by the geologist Joseph Burr Tyrrell.

Born: April 30, 1770
Birthplace: London, England
Star Sign: Taurus

Died: February 10, 1857 (aged 86)