Hudson’s Bay Company (May 2, 1670)

To be completely honest, it was far more than a toehold. It was a swath of land extending far into the west of the country, thanks to the help of Radisson and Groseilliers

The purpose of the charter? To legitimize the fur trade with the Indians and bring the beaver pelts back to England, thereby undercutting France’s efforts to do the same. Without the proliferation of the lowly beaver, this would not have happened.

I randomized the timing of HBC’s incorporation, just to see what stood out. The conjunction of Neptune with the Descendant might be accidental, but there’s no mistaking the inconjunct linking it to Pluto.

However, I do not have a Robert Hand quote that supports this aspect, so I’m going to have to wing it. Neptune is an energy that has a secret nature. It hides behind masks and therefore seems to represent that which no one must talk about. Pluto, on the other hand, is a revealer of secrets and brings to light the hidden motivations of the enterprise. In other words, the creation of the HBC was an excuse to exploit the natural resources of this newfound country, while actually claiming more of it for the Crown.

In 2023, Hudson’s Bay officially stopped selling animal fur products.