Peter Skene Ogden
Peter Skene Ogden, alternately Skeene, Skein or Skeen (baptised 12 February 1790 – September 27, 1854) was a Canadian explorer of the American West. During his many expeditions he explored parts of Oregon, Washington, Nevada, Utah, Idaho and Wyoming.
His birthdate is variously given as 1774, 1794, 1790. He was the son of Chief Justice Isaac Ogden of Quebec. After a brief stint with the American Fur Company, he joined the North-West Company in 1809. His first post was at Ile-a-la-Crosse, Saskatchewan in 1810 and by 1814 was in charge of a post at Green Lake, Saskatchewan, 100 miles south.
Ogden had frequent run-ins with the rivalling Hudson Bay Company (HBC) employees and engaged in physical violence on several occasions. In 1816, HBC clerks report that Ogden killed an Indian who had traded with the Hudson Bay Company. Not only killed, he was "butchered in a most cruel manner," according to HBC officer James Bird. Although many in the North-West Company viewed this as a necessary part of living in the North-West, the HBC viewed him as a dangerous man, whose actions were deplorable especially considering his background as the son of a judge. Ogden was charged with murder, and the North-West Company moved him further into the west to attempt to avoid any further confrontations with the HBC. He served at various posts in modern day Oregon, Washington State, and British Columbia for the next several years.
When the HBC and the North-West Company merged in 1821, the HBC was in a quandry. They disliked and distrusted Ogden severely, but finally agreed that he had done no more than many other people during the 'fur-trade wars' and appointed him a chief trader in the Snake River country of the Columbia Department in 1823. Between 1824 and 1830 Ogden set out on six separate expeditions to explore the Snake River country and to bring as many furs from this area to the HBC. The expeditions were a successful venture for the HBC, but not without troubles.
In 1830, Ogden was sent north to establish a new HBC post named Fort Simpson near the mouth of the Nass River in British Columbia. There Ogden fought successfully against American fur competition.
Ogden, Utah is named after him.