Quest Biographies Bundle — Books 26–30. Wayne Larsen

by his performance in the Athabasca a few months later, woefully inadequate for his abilities. By 1820 his place in the bland world of colonial brokerage seemed secure.

      Historian E.E. Rich claims that when Simpson entered the fur trade in 1820, he was an “utter novice” and “complete greenhorn.” But Simpson was no greenhorn, no novice. He had been in the company of Andrew Colvile since 1808 and had helped him in his capacity as Committee member. He knew personally the Earl of Selkirk and the other members of the Committee, and knew their tactical plans for victory in the Athabasca. He also knew Sir Alexander Mackenzie, with his breadth of knowledge of the Northwest and his geopolitical theory for a unified fur trade. As Simpson’s responsibilities in the HBC grew, he was to gain increasing intimacy and understanding of the workings of the Company. When he entered Rupert’s Land in 1820 he was a seasoned manager of men, expert bookkeeper and analytical accountant, and, behind it all, he had formed a concept for transcontinental mastery.