Anthony Henday

Anthony Henday (fl. 1750–1762) was one of the first European men to explore the interior of the Canadian northwest.

Henday was from the Isle of Wight, he may have been baptised in Shorwell on 24 December 1725.

His explorations were authorized and funded by the Hudson's Bay Company (HBC) because of their concern with La Vérendrye and the other western commanders who were funnelling fur trade from the northwest to their forts. Eventually, James Isham, chief at York Fort, suggested someone go to western Rupert's Land to encourage trade with the region's First Nations tribes.

Since the 1600s to the late 1800s the Hudson Bay's Company had the exclusive fur trade for the land within what was considered Hudson Bay's watershed. This region was known as Rupert's Land. For the furs that HBC was after they wanted to trade commodities like tobacco, kettles, axes, mirrors, beads, and alcohol. As Henday travelled inland to the Blackfeet country and back to York Factory he talked about the Indians having some problems with alcohol. He mentions on one day that his whole company being unable to travel because everyone was drinking. On Friday, May 30, 1755 Henday remarks on his journal that he is unable to continue their travels back to York Factory because "the Indians drank too much" but they were using their best furs to trade with the French for the alcohol. The whiskey trade was very brisk for the Hudson Bay's Company. In 1785 York Factory was taking in 2,000 gallons a year. As trade with the Blackfeet began this amount changed to about 8,000 gallons per year. By this time York Factory had its own still. Both the Hudson's Bay Company and the North West Company knew that in order to trade with the Blackfeet, both of these Companies had to make the Blackfeet dependent on liquor. The HBC and NWC competed with each other as to who could supply more alcohol to the Blackfeet so that the Blackfeet would then trade with the successful supplier of whiskey.

Henday volunteered to undertake an expedition into this territory. A convicted smuggler, he joined the HBC in 1750 as a net-maker and labourer. Henday had gained experience in inland travel after arriving at York Factory. On June 26, 1754, he set out with a group of Plains Indians on foot to travel from York Factory to present-day Red Deer, Alberta. It is documented they passed the French Fort Paskoya where he may have met La Corne, the western commander.

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