John Palliser
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John Palliser (January 29, 1817 – August 18, 1887) was an Irish-born Canadian geographer and explorer. Born in Comragh, County Waterford, Ireland to Colonel Wray Palliser and brother of Sir William Palliser. He is related to Bishop William Palliser, a former Protestant Church of Ireland's Bishop of Cashel.
From 1839 to 1863, Palliser served in the military and became a Captain in the Waterford artillery. He was also Sheriff of Waterford. His first hunting expedition was in 1847 in the American West. It was during this time, Palliser wrote Solitary Rambles and Adventures of a Hunter in the Prairies, which was published in 1853. He travelled back to America as leader of the British North American Exploring Expedition, which travelled over the uncharted regions of the far west of North America between 1857 and 1861. He made a topographical delimitation of the boundary between Canada and the United States, from Lake Superior to the coast of the Pacific Ocean. He was assisted by astronomer Lieutenant Thomas Blakiston of the Royal Artillery, botanist Eugene Bourgeau, and geologist Dr James Hector.
His travels took him to Canada, exploring a few rivers:
- White Fish River
- Kaministiquia River
- North Saskatchewan River
- South Saskatchewan River
- Red River
He returned to Ireland in 1862 and presented his findings to the British Parliament. The information contained in his survey was instrumental in the ending of the Hudson's Bay Company's ownership of Rupert's Land (lands encompassing all tributaries to Hudson's Bay) with the Deed of Surrender in 1869. It eventually opened up a new era of settlement and development in the Canadian West.
Palliser was somewhat inclined to spying; there were rumours he was working on behalf of certain Caribbean islands and the Confederate states in America.
In 1869 he travelled to Novaya Zemlya in Russia with his other brother Frederick Palliser aboard the ship Sampson.
Palliser never married and retired to Ireland, where he spent the rest of his time caring for his family. He died in County Waterford, Ireland in 1887 and was named a companion of St. Michael and St. George (CGM).
The Fairmont Palliser Hotel in Calgary, Alberta is named for him.
