Semple, Robert

(1766-1816). Born in Boston, Ma . Engaged in mercantile pursuits, and travelled extensively. In 1802 visited Cape Colony, and from 1805 to 1810 travelled through Spain, Portugal, the West Indies, and Brazil. In 1813, while on a journey in the rear of the allied armies from Hamburg to Gotten burg, arrested by Lord Cathcart as an American spy. In 1815 appointed governor of the factories and territories of the Hudson's Bay Company. In the course of his tour of inspection, reached his headquarters at Douglas (now part of Winnipeg), early in 1816. For some time there had been an active feud between the Hudson's Bay Company and the North West Company, and in an attack at Seven Oaks by a party of "Nor'-Wester's," under Cuthbert Grant, Semple was killed. Index : MS Brings party of Highlanders to Red River, 1815, 164; succeeds Macdonell as governor of Red River settlement, 164. Bib. : Dict. Nat. Biog. ; Bryce, Manitoba . See also Red River Colony; Seven Oaks.