Who was Thomas Douglas?

• A. The Fifth Earl of Selkirk, and was born in Scotland.
• B. A Scottish cloth merchant with land in the Red River.
• C. The British prime minister who oversaw fur trade.
• D. A French nobleman who invested in the HBC.

Answer: (A)

Thomas Douglas was the Fifth Earl of Selkirk, a Scottish nobleman. Born in Scotland, he is known for using his title and resources to back colonial settlement in Rupert’s Land, notably the Red River Settlement in what is now Manitoba, within the broader context of the fur trade era. This profile fits him as a Scottish peer and landowner, rather than the other descriptions which refer to a merchant, a prime minister, or a French investor.