Charles II Grants Charter: Hudson's Bay Company Rises
King Charles II hands a permanent charter to the Hudson's Bay Company, granting them exclusive rights to the vast territory of Rupert's Land and launching an era of intense competition with French traders. This royal decree solidifies British territorial claims across northern North America and transforms the fur trade into a state-backed enterprise that would shape the continent's economic and political landscape for centuries.
May 2, 1670
356 years ago
Key Figures & Places
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