PBA Galleries

"John Jacob Astor established a fur-trading post at the mouth of the Columbia River in 1811. During the War of 1812, Astor's partner, Duncan McDougal, sold the fort and its contents to the British North West Company. The Treaty of Ghent, however, required the British to restore Astoria to the jurisdiction of the United States. When the American Commissioner, J.B. Prevost, in company with Captain Hickey of the Royal Navy, entered the mouth of the Columbia in October, 1818 'the British flag was thereupon lowered, and that of the United States hoisted in its stead...' Of particular interest among the documents included in this message is the 'Inventory of Sundries delivered to the Northwest Company, Astoria, Columbia River, October, 1813," a detailed list of the supplies, equipment, arms, furs, and merchandise held in the fort in 1813 for maintenance and trade" (Wagner-Camp 25a). Howes C628; Sabin 14849.