William Moore (steamship Captain)

William Moore (steamship Captain)

John (JW) 1848, William (Billie) 1854, Henrietta 1856, Henry 1858, Wihelmina 1862, Bernard 1865 and

William Moore (30 March 1822 – 29 March 1909) was a steamship captain, businessman, miner and explorer in British Columbia and Alaska. During most of British Columbia's gold rushes (from the Queen Charlottes in 1852 until the Cassiar Gold Rush in 1872) Moore could be found at the center of activity, either providing transportation to the miners, working claims or delivering mail and supplies.

In 1887, guided by First Nation's explorer Skookum Jim (who later co-discovered the Klondike Goldfields), William Moore was guided through the White Pass route that would become a famous route to the Klondike Gold Rush and purchased the land that later became the famous gold rush town of Skagway. Throughout his 87 years, he would father four sons and three daughters and make and lose at least three separate fortunes. His friends and rivals would give him many nicknames, among them, William "Buddy" Moore and "The Flying Dutchman".