 |
|
|
Donald
A. Smith
(1820-1914):
The Last Spike
|
|
Donald Smith
was born and raised in Scotland. He moved to North America at the
age of 18. He began work as a clerk for Hudson's Bay Company
in one of their warehouses. His job was to count muskrat pelts.
He later became a fur trader. He spent 30 years trading furs, mostly
in the wilderness of Labrador.
Returning to
England for a visit, Smith met some of the company officials
at the London headquarters. They were so impressed by him that they
appointed him company commissioner in 1871. The company needed
to adapt to the new circumstances. He was able to help turn a
series of isolated trading posts into a chain of stores. He later
became Lord Strathcona and Mount Royal.
Smith was very
good at persuading people to invest in business. He was able to
convince business people to invest in the Canadian Pacific Railway.
As a result, he was given the honour of driving the last spike into
the railway when it was finished.
 |
|
What
do you think Smith's most important accomplishment was?
|
Back
to Personnalities Page
|
