Alexander Henry
Alexander Henry was a notable travel writer and autobiographer, best known for his 1809 work, "Travels and Adventures in Canada and the Indian Territories, Between the Years 1760 and 1776." Born in 1739 to English parents in New Brunswick, New Jersey, he journeyed to Canada with British troops and became deeply involved in the fur trade. His narrative chronicles his expedition from Montreal to Michilimackinac, detailing significant encounters, including his adoption by an Ojibway chief named Wawatam, who played a crucial role in saving his life during the Michilimackinac massacre. Henry's experiences with Native American cultures serve as some of the most vivid elements of his writing.
Despite inconsistencies in the chronological accuracy of his accounts, Henry's narrative has been influential, inspiring other literary works, including John Richardson's novel "Wacousta." Throughout his life, he navigated the complex dynamics of British, French, and Native American relations, ultimately forming a trading partnership that evolved over the years. Henry also played a pivotal role in the fur trade, assisting the North West Company and co-founding the Beaver Club in Montreal. He settled in Montreal, where he lived until his death in 1824, leaving behind a legacy marked by his unique contributions to early Canadian literature and trade history.
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Alexander Henry
Writer
- Born: August 1, 1739
- Birthplace: New Brunswick, New Jersey
- Died: April 4, 1824
- Place of death: Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Biography
The principal work of travel writer and autobiographer Alexander Henry is 1809’s Travels and Adventures in Canada and the Indian Territories, Between the Years 1760 and 1776. Although the documentary quality of the work is suspect, with many chronological and miscellaneous errors, it has been successful since its publication, going through many editions, and is widely respected as a prototypical North American adventure tale. The narrative recounts Henry’s expedition from Montreal to Michilimackinac (present-day Mackinaw City, Michigan), which involved crossings of the Ottawa River, Lake Nippissing, and the French River. The narrative was widely influential and directly informed the best-known work of Canada’s first native-born novelist, John Richardson’s Wacousta.
The child of English parents, Henry was born in 1739 in New Brunswick, New Jersey. He accompanied British troops to Canada in 1760, working as a supplier and then, after his journey to Mackinac, as a trader. He was adopted by a minor Ojibway chief, whom he called Wawatam, who saved his life during the Michilimackinac massacre. Henry spent a year living with the chief and his family, traveling with them and learning the native way of life as an insider. The massacre, and his time with the Native Americans, are some of the most vividly described and heavily cited episodes in his narrative.
Although Henry made great efforts to get along with all the natives he traded with—as well as the British and French in the area—his affinity with the Ojibway chief embroiled him in internecine Native American politics. Henry was often threatened and eventually fled to Sault Ste. Marie at Wawatam’s request to live under the protection of fur trader Jean Baptiste Cadotte. Henry and Cadotte formed a professional partnership with initial interests in mining that were not successful. They continued as partners in a trading company that initially competed with the Hudson Bay Company and eventually joined forces with it.
In the late 1770’s and early 1780’s, Henry traveled several times to England and France to build his fur trading business, eventually settling in Montreal as a merchant with ties to the trade. He assisted the North West Company in shipping fur to China and became associated through that enterprise with American tycoon John Jacob Astor. Henry co-founded with nineteen other traders the Beaver Club of Montreal and served as a justice of the peace until 1821.
Henry had three children by Julia Keston in the early 1780’s, but did not marry her until 1785. Two more sons were born after their marriage. He died in Montreal in 1824.