Norman Kittson

Norman Wolfred Kittson (6 March 1814 – 10 May 1888) was one of early Minnesota's most prominent citizens. He was best known as first a fur trader, then a steamboat-line operator and finally a railway entrepreneur and owner of thoroughbred racehorses. He was part of the original syndicate that went on to create the Canadian Pacific Railway. Kittson County, Minnesota is named for him.

Norman Wolfred Kittson was the eighth of ten children, including William I born out of wedlock, born to George Kittson (1779–1832), merchant, Justice of the Peace, clerk of the Commisariat and King's auctioneer at Sorel, and later Principal Cashier of the Bank of Canada in Montreal, both in Lower Canada. Norman Wolfred’s mother, Ann Tucker of Sorel, was the daughter of Sergeant John Tucker (d.1782) of the 53rd Regiment of Foot. Norman was born 6 March 1814, and baptized on 27 March of the same year in Sorel. His middle name 'Wolfred' was given to Norman to honour a family friend, Wolfred Nelson.

Norman's grandfather, Thomas Kittson, was in the British Army, probably in the 24th Regiment of Foot and likely was killed or taken prisoner in the fall of 1777 at the Battles of Saratoga. Thomas was married to Julia Calcutt (1756–1835), who has likely travelled with him with the Regiment in April 1776 from Cork, Ireland to Trois-Rivières. By 1779, Julia was living with Alexander Henry in Montreal, with her infant George. Julia and Alexander had four children born out of wedlock, and did marry by licence in 1785, Montreal, likely after the official news that her husband was deceased. They had a fifth child after getting married.

Kittson received a grammar school education at Sorel, and like everyone in his family he was perfectly bilingual. His step-grandfather Alexander Henry and four of his five paternal uncles had all been active in the fur trade, particularly the North West Company. It therefore was no surprise that, seeking adventure, in 1830 he took an apprenticeship with the American Fur Company at Michilimackinac, where Alexander Henry and many others from Sorel had been active. Kittson served at various posts in what became Minnesota Territory in the United States.

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