Explorer james knights biography

James Knight was an English director of the Hudson's Bay Company and an explorer who disappeared on an expedition to find the Northwest Passage.
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.
James Knight (explorer) (c.1640–c.1720), English explorer and director of the Hudson's Bay Company in America; James Knight (actor) (1891–1948), British actor.

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Spirit High: The Mick Parker Story

On 21 May 2009, after weeks of gruelling climbing, Mick Parker reached the summit of Makalu in the Himalaya, 8463 metres above sea level. He was now a veteran of the '8000ers club' - those elite adventurers who have scaled the world's highest mountains. What's more, as with all his climbs, he'd done it without the help of bottled oxygen, guides or Sherpas: a method that was extremely dangerous, but revered by purists. The stunning achievement crowned a ten-year climbing career that had begun in suburban Victoria, before taking on New Zealand, the US, South America, and finally the ultimate challenge - the Himalaya. His face slathered in sunscreen, Mick smiled, squinted, took a photo of the magnificent vista, then prepared for the long descent. Thirteen days later, he was found dead in his Kathmandu hotel room. He was only 36. A story of courage, determination and high-altitude adventure, Spirit High details the exhilarating but all-too-brief life of Mick Parker. An Aussie larrikin who knew no fear, but cared deeply for his fellow human, it i

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For over 400 years explorers risked their lives to search the Arctic for a northwest Passage between the Atlantic and the Pacific Oceans.

Explorers searching for the Passage were hoping to establish a lucrative trading route between Europe and Asia. The aim was to shorten the time and cost of sailing to and from markets such as India and China.

Trapped by ice

By the 19th century, explorers had found their way into the Canadian Archipelago, the island-strewn waterway connecting the Atlantic and Pacific.

The greatest challenge was sea-ice, which blocked the channels between the islands during winter and remained frozen in bad summers. It could damage or crush ships. Explorers could die of starvation if their ships were stuck in ice for several years.

Scurvy, consumption and cannibalism were just some of the risks of going in search of a northwest Passage.

Nevertheless, the quest successfully to navigate the Northwest Passage attracted a number of explorers. The tales of these men are of hardship and tragedy but also triumph, endurance, and ultimately success, af

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Canadian History Ehx

Among the explorers of Canada, the name of James Knight is not well known. It doesn’t have the same recognition of Samuel de Champlain, David Thompson or Alexander Mackenzie.

The story of James Knight has proven to be one of the earliest mysteries of the Arctic, and it has become one of the most tragic stories of the exploration of the Canadian Arctic.

Knight was born sometime around 1640 and he joined the Hudson’s Bay Company in 1676 as a carpenter. By 1682, he was a chief factor at Fort Albany in James Bay. Taking his income, he invested it back into the company and by 1711 had gained a seat on The Company’s Board of Directors.

Following the War of the Spanish Succession, which saw several Hudson’s Bay Company forts captured by the French, Knight was sent out to rebuild York Factory in 1714. He was given this task due to his 38 years of experience with the company. He succeeded in rebuilding the fort and by 1719, it paid its first dividends in two decades.

Despite his advancing age, Knight was committed to finding the Northwest Passage after he he