Hudson's Bay Company

Hudson's Bay Company, mercantile corporation established by the British in 1670 for trading in the Hudson Bay region. The original intention was also to colonize the area and seek a northwest passage, but the company's major activity was fur trading with the Native Americans. It played an important part during the next 2 centuries in opening up Canada. Although its vast lands were sold to the Dominion in 1870, it is still a major fur-trading company and one of Canada's chief business firms, with holdings in metal ores, oil, gas, and timber.