Alexander Roderick McLeod (c. 1782 – 11 June 1840) was a fur trader and explorer who began his career with the North West Company in 1802.
McLeod became a chief trader with the Hudson's Bay Company after they joined with the NWC in 1821. He was highly active in solidifying the HBC role in the Pacific Northwest and was instrumental in George Back’s Arctic expedition, as well as in establishing the Siskiyou Trail between Fort Vancouver and the Sacramento Valley of California.[1]
McLeod was a maverick in the eyes of the HBC but was an important employee who served the company in a variety of settings. He was passed over for a position as a chief factor, something he expected and felt he had earned. A son-in-law who has married his daughter, Sarah, John Ballenden, did achieve this position with the company.