Early Life Fur Trade
John Johnston (1762-1828), was born in Belfast, Ireland to an upper-class Scots-Irish family. John Johnston held in his own right the estate of Craige, near Coleraine in County Londonderry. His father was a civil engineer who planned and built the Belfast Water Works. During John Johnston's youth, his mother's brother was Attorney General of Ireland.
As a young man, Johnston emigrated in 1792 to Canada for its opportunities. He had letters of introduction to Lord Dorchester, Governor of the colony. Through him he met leaders in society, including the magnates of the recently formed North West Company in Montreal. The fur trade looked like a good opportunity to make a profit. Johnston planned to be a "wintering partner", one who traded with Native Americans at the post on the frontier. He purchased trade goods in Montreal to take with him.
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