Archives of Manitoba

Murdoch McPherson (ca. 1795-1863) was from the parish of Gairloch in Ross and Cromarty, Scotland. He entered the service of the North West Company in 1816, remaining with the NWC until it merged with the Hudson's Bay Company in 1821. He then became a clerk with the HBC in the Athabasca District, moving to the Mackenzie District in 1823 and serving at Fort Norman (1824-1825) and Rivière aux Liards (1825-1834). In 1834 he was appointed chief trader at Fort Simpson. After a furlough in 1840 and 1841, McPherson went to Tadoussac for three years before returning to Fort Simpson in 1844. He was promoted to the rank of chief factor in 1847, and after another furlough from 1849 to 1851, he retired from the HBC, moving to the home left to him by his father-in-law, HBC Chief Factor Edward Smith, in Pictou, Nova Scotia.

McPherson married Jean Smith, and they had four children: Hannah, Joseph Edward, Alexander and Murdo (Murdoch).

13067

McPherson family fonds