Date

Event

Relevant
Documents

1494

Pope grants most of the New World to Spain in the Treaty of Tordesillas.

1592

Juan de Fuca allegedly sails through the Northwest Passage.

1

1670

Treaty of Madrid: English and Spanish recognize each other’s claims in the Americas.

1728

Vitus Bering leads a Russian expedition to Alaska.

1745

British Parliament offers a reward for finding the Northwest Passage.

1774

Perez Expedition sent by Spain to claim land along the Northwest Coast of North America. The expedition does not make landfall, but its members trade with the Haida and Nuu-chah-nulth.

4, 5

1775

Bodega-Hezeta Expedition sent by Spain to claim land along the Northwest Coast. The expedition members erect crosses on shore.

1778

James Cook, an English explorer, surveys the Northwest Coast.

6

1785

First commercial fur traders arrive on the Northwest Coast.

1789

English Captain John Meares arrives at Nootka Sound. He supposedly buys land from Nuuu-chah-nulth chief Maquinna.

13

1789

Nootka Controversy begins: Spanish Captain José Martínez imprisons English Captain James Colnett for trespassing in Spanish waters. Martínez shoots Nuu-chah-nulth chief Callicum.

1790

Nootka Convention takes place in Europe in an attempt to resolve controversy the Spanish agree to surrender land purchased by Meares.

1792

American fur-trader Robert Gray and his crew become the first Euro-Americans to sail up the Columbia River.

17, 18

1792

Englishman George Vancouver and Spaniard Juan Francisco de la Bodega y Quadra meet at Nootka Sound to carry out the terms of the Nootka Convention. They are unable to reach a diplomatic accord, but they agree to explore the area and share information. Vancouver explores the Strait of Juan de Fuca and Puget Sound, while Bodega y Quadra circumnavigates Vancouver Island.

16, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25

1792

Under the command of Bodega y Quadra, the Spanish move from Nootka Sound to Neah Bay, which they call Nuñez Ganoa. The Spanish subsequently abandoned this post and most of their other interests in the Northwest Coast region.

25

1793

Scotsman Alexander Mackenzie becomes the first person to cross North America by land, arriving at Bella Coola.

1794

Final resolution of the Nootka Controversy: the Spanish hand over their fort at Nootka to the English, but Nootka Sound becomes a free port, open to ships from all nations.

1803

Americans purchase Louisiana Territory from the French.

1804-06

Lewis and Clark cross North America by land, reaching the mouth of the Columbia River.

1804-06

John Jewitt lives among the Nuu-chah-nulth as a captive of Maquinna.

27, 28

1810

The North West Company establishes Spokane House, the first permanent inland fur-trading post.

1811-12

Astoria established as a trading post by the New York-based Pacific Fur Company.

1812-14

War of 1812: English seize Astoria from the Americans. After the end of the war, American investors sell Astoria to the English-owned Northwest Company.

1818-19

After a series of negotiations, Spain abandons its claim to all lands north of the California border, the 42nd parallel. Britain and the United States agree to joint occupation of the Pacific Northwest.