Biography of james knight
James knight explorer!
KNIGHT, JAMES, HBC governor and explorer; b. 1640?; d. 1719–20?
James Knight was probably born about 1640, since he was said to have been nearly 80 years old when he set out on his last voyage.
Biography of james knight
His birthplace is not known but he was a shipwright or carpenter at Deptford, England, when he first entered the employ of the HBC on 16 May 1676. Most of his life was spent in the company’s service. Arriving at James Bay in August 1676, he spent the next five years as a carpenter at £42 per annum, apparently building or repairing the factories at Rupert, Moose, and Albany Rivers.
In 1680 he was considered for the post of deputy governor but the appointment went to the surgeon, Walter Farr.
Knight returned to London in August 1681 and on 28 October he reported to the HBC’s committee on the factories, the Indians, and the country.
The committee members realized that they had a good man, and consulted him frequently while preparations were being made to send