Cuthbert Grant

Cuthbert Grant (c. 1793–1854) was a prominent Métis leader, fur trader, and military commander in early 19th-century Canada. Born to a Scottish fur trader and a Métis woman, Grant straddled both European and Indigenous cultures, becoming a skilled diplomat and strategist. He initially worked for the North West Company, a rival to the Hudson's Bay Company, and gained prominence during the fierce competition between these trading enterprises. Grant is best known as the leader of the Métis during the Seven Oaks Incident of 1816, a violent clash between Métis fur traders and Hudson's Bay Company supporters near present-day Winnipeg, which resulted in significant casualties. After the merger of the trading companies, Grant transitioned to farming and ranching, helping to establish the agricultural community of Grantown in what is now Manitoba. He became a respected community leader and was involved in early negotiations with British authorities regarding Indigenous rights. Grant's legacy represents an important chapter in Canadian history, exemplifying the complex role of the Métis people in the fur trade and early settlement of the West.