Has anyone heard of or have any information about a trapper in the 1800 named Finn McDonald? Not sure if I have his first name spelled right, but he came through Oregon as one of the 1st trappers after Lewis and Clark but so far have not found any history on him.

Finan MacDonald was David Thompsons clerk.
He was with Thompson when Thompson discovered the headwaters of the Columbia river.

That was an HBC outfit, wasn't it? I don't recall hearing either name associated with an American company.

David Thompson worked for both the HBC and the NWC.
A lot of the NW of what is now USA had HBC forts and trading posts.
I believe Macdonald was the clerk at Spokane House(HBC).

Finan was a hard Man-He was involved in the meat trade as well as the fur trade.He was known for wrestling,throwing down and killing a buffalo with his bare hands.I believe he was Scottish from the northern Hebrides.The HBC recruited men from Northern Scotland (Hebrides and the Orkneys) because they were tough and used to the cold.

If You Google-"Finan MacDonald-David Thompsons clerk" some infor should come up on him.

Alexander Mackenzie,Samuel Hearne and David Thompson(all Bay Men) Discovered and mapped much of western and northern North America long before Lewis and Clark.

The Mid to late 1700's was the hayday of the furtrade in North America.

Thanks for the quick history lesson. Some of it was new to me and a refresher never hurts.

Thanks for the insight on some of the people involved in the fur trade industry .in that area . The fur trade industry was the driving force behind the history of the North American continent. It gets no recognition but the history of the United States of America and the fur industry are connected throughout that time period

There were actually 2 other trades besides the fur trade that were equally important.
The Native equestrian trade on the northern plains and the meat trade.The fur trade could not have been sustained had it not been for the meat trade(buffalo) to sustain the trading forts,and the trading partners of both the HBC and the NWC.

You are right .Both of the ones you mention where part of picture at the time .And it could be said that the CA Gold Rush and the farmers settling west of the Miss. river came about based on the fur trade industry Also If you study the early fur trader /explorer/mountain men they where fascinating men that lived a life we can not begin to understand .

The Mountain man period was a small snippet nearer the end of the 200yr + Fur trade in North America.

If You Google-"Finan MacDonald-David Thompsons clerk" some infor should come up on him.

Thank you! Yes this link brings up information about him.