10 Facts About Anthony Henday

Anthony Henday ventured farther westward than any white man had before him.

Anthony Henday camped along the North Saskatchewan River, perhaps on the present site of Rocky Mountain House or Edmonton, and is said to have been the first European to see the Rocky Mountains, if only from a distance.

Anthony Henday's purpose was to encourage First Nations in the upper watershed of the Saskatchewan River to come to Hudson Bay to trade, but due to the great distance involved, their inability to build canoes and paddle them, and fear of attack by Cree along the river, Blackfoot and other western prairie First Nations were reluctant to make the journey.

Anthony Henday said these people had never been in contact with any Europeans and his Cree companions were afraid of them.

That evening Anthony Henday stopped, near present-day Innisfail, at a massive Blackfoot encampment, which by Anthony Henday's count numbered 322 tepees.

Anthony Henday offered to have some of the Archithinues go with them back to York Factory.

Anthony Henday urged the tribesman to build up their stocks of fur by going into the woods to hunt, and trap, but the tribesmen instead preferred to take their ease, staying in camp.

Anthony Henday's journal was copied in four different and contradictory versions.

Anthony Henday left the service of the HBC in 1762 largely because his efforts for the company, at least in his estimation, had not been properly recognized.

Anthony Henday Drive, a large ring road in Edmonton, is named in his honour, as is Henday Hall, one of the residence towers in the main student residence complex at the University of Alberta in that city.