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John McGillivray

1770 – 1855

Canadian politician

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About John McGillivray

Lived 1770 – 1855 (aged 84–85).

John McGillivray (circa 1770 - October 13, 1855) was a Canadian fur trader and political figure in Upper Canada.

He was born at Strathnairn, Inverness-shire, Scotland around 1770. He came to Canada with a distant cousin, William McGillivray, who was a partner in the North West Company, and became a clerk for the company in the Lower English River department. He was transferred to the Athabasca River department in 1801 as a wintering partner and then became the head of the Athabasca department in 1810 where competition with the Hudson's Bay Company was fierce. In August 1816, he was arrested at Fort William by Lord Selkirk, although he claimed he was not involved in the Battle of Seven Oaks. He was not prosecuted and returned to the Rainy Lake region in 1817. In 1818, plagued by rheumatism, he retired and settled near Williamstown.

He was appointed to the Legislative Council of the province in 1839. He also served as a justice of the peace. In 1852, he was recognized as the chief of the McGillivary clan in Scotland.

He died near Williamstown in 1855.

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Important facts

Born
1770
Birth century
Died
1855
Positions held
Member of the Legislative Council of Upper Canada, Member of the Legislative Council of the Province of Canada

People in John McGillivray's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped John McGillivray's

Frequently asked questions

Who was John McGillivray?

Canadian politician

When was John McGillivray born?

John McGillivray was born in 1770.

When did John McGillivray die?

John McGillivray died in 1855.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: John McGillivray

· Wikidata: Q6247778

· DBpedia: John McGillivray (fur trader)

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). John McGillivray. https://biography.guide/john-mcgillivray/

MLA: "John McGillivray." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/john-mcgillivray/.

Chicago: "John McGillivray." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/john-mcgillivray/.

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