Simon McGillivray, ca. 1824

Artist: Reinagle, Ramsay Richard (1775-1862)

Medium: oil on canvas
Dimensions: 112.0 x 87.5 cm (stretcher)

Simon McGillivray (ca. 1783/1785-1840) was involved in the North West Company which with the Hudson's Bay Company dominated the fur trade in Canada in the early 1800s. He played a key role in the 1821 merger of the two companies, undertaken to resolve the problems created by rancorous competition and financial difficulties. McGillivray soon experienced other business problems and returned to England in 1830, ending his affiliation with the fur trade. This painting, done in England, shows him in the regalia of the Masonic Lodge, a secretive fraternal organization. From 1822 until his death, he was Grand Master of the second Provincial Lodge of Upper Canada (Ontario).

National Archives of Canada, negative no. C-000176