28 Facts About Simon Metcalfe

Simon Metcalfe was a British-born American surveyor and one of the first American maritime fur traders to visit the Pacific Northwest coast.

Simon Metcalfe was the son of George and Anne Metcalfe of Askrigg, Yorkshire.

Simon Metcalfe said at that time that his address was Dowgate Street, London and that he was a merchant.

Simon Metcalfe found employment as a surveyor and worked on the survey of the Fort Stanwix Treaty line in about 1769 in the western part of the province.

Simon Metcalfe was promoted to Deputy Surveyor in the Province of New York by 1770.

Simon Metcalfe was taken prisoner by the British and held in Montreal.

Simon Metcalfe's property located on Lake Champlain was destroyed during the war.

Simon Metcalfe continued as a maritime fur trader for the next seven years.

Simon Metcalfe probably did not return to New York after leaving in 1787.

Simon Metcalfe might have been the first American to sail to the Pacific Northwest coast to pursue fur trading.

Simon Metcalfe approached Nootka Sound and the Eleanora was almost captured as well, but he managed to escape.

The Eleanora under Simon Metcalfe arrived in the islands first.

Simon Metcalfe sailed to the neighboring island of Maui to trade along the coast.

Simon Metcalfe ran into more trouble on the coast of Maui when a boat and sailor went missing.

Simon Metcalfe sailed to Olowalu, the village of the suspected thieves.

Simon Metcalfe directed them to come to one side, where he had loaded his cannon with ball and shot.

Simon Metcalfe ordered a broadside fired at point-blank range, which blasted the vessels to pieces.

Simon Metcalfe sent the boatswain John Young ashore to investigate.

Young was captured by the Hawaiians, and Simon Metcalfe was puzzled by the sudden silence.

Simon Metcalfe waited two days for Young to return, firing guns in hope that the sound would guide Young back.

Finally, sensing danger or becoming frustrated, Simon Metcalfe left and set sail for China, not knowing that his son had been killed nearby.

Simon Metcalfe never learned about the attack on the Fair American or that his son had been killed.

Simon Metcalfe eventually conquered and unified the Hawaiian Islands under his rule.

Simon Metcalfe won the Battle of Kepaniwai later in 1790, which defeated the forces of Maui.

Simon Metcalfe continued to trade around the Pacific Ocean and Indian Ocean for another 4 years.

Simon Metcalfe named this brig Ino and appointed his younger son Robert to command her.

In 1794, Simon Metcalfe visited Houston Stewart Channel, at the southern end of the Haida Gwaii, and anchored in Coyah's Sound, in the area now known as British Columbia.

Simon Metcalfe began friendly trading with the local Haida natives under Chief Koyah.