Kamtchatka; and in 1820 commanded an
expedition to explore the Russian polar seas, which reached 72 deg. 2'
north latitude. In 1827 appointed governor of Russian America (Alaska),
and during his administration made surveys of the country, opened roads,
built bridges, and instituted various other reforms and improvements. In
1834 recalled to Russia; in 1837 rear-admiral; in 1847 vice-admiral.
Strongly opposed to the cession of Alaska to the United States. =Index=:
=D= Succeeds Baranoff in Russian America, 45.

=Wright, Justice.= =S= Barrack-master, 47.

=Wright, Philemon= (1760-1839). Born in Woburn, Massachusetts. In 1800
emigrated to Canada, and ascended the river Ottawa sixty miles beyond
any previous known settler, with the object of selecting a suitable
tract of land for a settlement. Eventually chose the site of the present
town of Hull, Quebec, and received a grant from the government. Imported
several of the best breeds of cattle from Great Britain, and,
introducing other improvements, the agricultural settlement grew into an
important and thriving township.

=Wyoming District.= =Hd= Laid waste, 151.

=X Y Company.= Founded at Montreal in 1795 by several partners of the
North West Company, who had become dissatisfied with the administration
of the old company, and particularly resented the autocratic ways of its
chief, Simon McTavish, popularly known among the fur traders, because of
his domineering manner, as "Le Premier," and "Le Marquis." The backbone
of the new concern was the powerful Montreal firm of Forsyth, Richardson
& Co. Alexander Mackenzie was almost persuaded to join the new company
in 1795, but did not actually do so until 1801. Meanwhile the X Y
Company had built a post at Grand Portage in 1797, and followed their
rivals to the Assiniboine, the Saskatchewan, the Athabaska, and even
into the remote Peace River country. On the death of McTavish, in 1804,
the two companies were united as the North West Company. =Index=: =MS=
Organized by malcontents from North West Company, 6, 92; builds rival
post at Grand Portage, 93; Mackenzie becomes the head of, 98; absorbed
by North-West Company, 1804, 99. =Bib.=: Masson, _Bourgeois de la
Compagnie du Nord-Ouest_; Bryce, _Hudson's Bay Company_.

=Yale, James Murray.= Entered the service of the Hudson's Bay Company
about 1815, when still a boy, and after some years' service east of the
mountains, transferred to New Caledonia. Eventually promoted to the r