The British Timeline

Peter Puget and Joseph Whidbey, members of the Vancouver expedition, chart Puget Sound.

American Captain Robert Gray discovers Gray’s Harbor and names it after himself.  He explores the Columbia River and names it after his ship, the Columbia.

The U.S. and Great Britain sign a treaty declaring joint occupancy of the land they call “Oregon Country,” which includes most of the land west of the Rocky Mountains and North of Spanish-occupied California.

U.S. and Great Britain renew their treaty of joint occupation.

The Hudson’s Bay Company builds Fort Nisqually.

Fort Nisqually abandons its fur trade and becomes the Puget Sound Agricultural Company, raising cattle and sheep.

Dr. Tolmie of Fort Nisqually meets the Simmons-Bush party.  He allows them to buy supplies from the fort in exchange for wooden shingles.

The U.S. and Great Britain sign a treaty that sets the international boundary at the 49^th parallel, the present border between Washington and British Columbia.  This puts the present-day state of Washington in U.S. territory.

Oregon Territory is created.

Washington Territory is organized.