William Connolly (fur trader)

William Connolly (1786-1849) was an Anglo-Canadian fur trader who oversaw activities in New Caledonia, now located within modern-day British Columbia.

Connolly gradually ascended the corporate hierarchy of the North West Company (NWC) and later the Hudson's Bay Company (HBC). When the NWC absorbed into the HBC in 1821, Connolly went west to New Caledonia to reexamine all regional operations in 1821. He was appointed Chief Factor in 1825 and held managerial responsibilities from Fort St. James until 1831, when Peter Warren Dease took over. While at Fort St. James he took James Douglas under his wing, impressed by Douglas' skills. Because of their close relations, Connolly agreed to Douglas marrying his Métis daughter Amelia Connolly. Her mother was Cree and likely also Métis.

In 1832 Connolly took his family back to Montreal, where he remained until his death in 1849.

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