Richard Charles Hardisty

Hardisty, Richard Charles

Richard Charles Hardisty, fur trader, senator (b at Ft Mistassini, near James Bay, 3 Mar 1831; d at Winnipeg 15 Oct 1889). The mixed-blood son and grandson of chief factors of the Hudson's Bay Co and one of 6 brothers in the company's service, Hardisty was educated at Red River Academy (later St John's College, Winnipeg) before joining the HBC as an apprentice postmaster in the Red River District. His advancement was steady, and in 1872 he was appointed chief factor at Fort Edmonton, administering a vast district that covered much of present-day Saskatchewan and Alberta. He ran as an Independent candidate for the District of Alberta in the federal elections of 1887 but was defeated; the following year he was named to the Senate.