355-year-old Royal Charter sells for $13m in Canada despite surviving the blitz

The Royal Charter granted to the Hudson's Bay Company in 1670, recognized as one of the foundational documents of Canada, has been acquired for C$18 million ($13 million; 9.6 million) by two of the country's wealthiest families. The 355-year-old charter, which gave the company extensive authority over vast regions of present-day Canada, was auctioned after the corporation declared bankruptcy earlier this year.

The winning bid, submitted by entities associated with the Weston family and David Thomson, chairman of Thomson Reuters, ensures that the historic document remains in Canada. The charter, which had been stored in a UK country estate during World War Two to protect it from the Blitz, will now be jointly held by several Canadian museums and archives. The purchase also includes a C$5 million contribution to these institutions to support conservation and public education initiatives related to the document.

The sale is still subject to court approval. In a statement, the Hudson's Bay Company confirmed that "the Charter will be placed in the care of trusted institutions committed to, among other things, working in consultation with Indigenous communities so the Charter's complex history can be acknowledged, interpreted and shared with all Canadians." The Archives of Manitoba, the Manitoba Museum, the Canadian Museum of History, and the Royal Ontario Museum will share stewardship of the charter.

Originally authorized by King Charles II in 1670, the charter empowered the Hudson's Bay Company, a central player in the North American fur trade and later an iconic Canadian retailer, to enact laws and establish colonies in parts of what is now Canada. According to Cody Groat, assistant professor of history and Indigenous studies at Western University, the charter allowed the company "to operate as both a corporation and as a government," including passing legislation and negotiating treaties with Indigenous peoples.

The charter also served as the legal basis for the Hudson's Bay Company to transfer its North American territories to Canada in 1869, without the consent of the Indigenous populations. Initially held at Windsor Castle, the document later moved to the companys London headquarters until 1940. During World War Two, it was kept in a Hertfordshire estate for safekeeping, before eventually being housed at the company's Toronto headquarters in the 1970s.

While many of the Hudson's Bay Company's records were donated to the province of Manitoba in the 1990s, the charter was not included. Following the companys bankruptcy and liquidation of its stores last summer, there was strong interest in keeping the charter in the public domain. "We observed sustained efforts over time, and these wealthy families and corporations began making substantial offers to acquire this document and then immediately donate it to public institutions," said Groat.

Ultimately, DKRT Family Corp, affiliated with David Thomson, and Wittington Investments, owned by the Weston family, secured the charter at the auction.

Analysis of the Acquisition of the Hudson's Bay Company Charter

The acquisition of the Royal Charter granted to the Hudson's Bay Company (HBC) in 1670 for C$18 million represents not just a significant financial transaction, but also a pivotal moment in Canadian heritage. The document, a cornerstone in the history of the country's development, had been at risk of leaving Canada following HBC’s bankruptcy earlier this year. With the Weston family and David Thomson securing the winning bid, the charter will remain a piece of Canada’s national identity, now entrusted to a series of Canadian museums and archives.

The purchase ensures that the charter, which has played a crucial role in the formation of modern Canada, particularly in the context of the fur trade and its complex relationship with Indigenous communities, will be preserved for future generations. This move addresses both historical and contemporary concerns about the colonial legacies embedded in Canada’s development. The commitment to sharing the document with the public, alongside funding for conservation efforts, underscores the importance of accessibility and education in understanding the charter’s broader implications.

However, it is important to acknowledge that the history of the Hudson's Bay Company is deeply intertwined with the dispossession of Indigenous lands, and the transfer of the company's territories to Canada in 1869 occurred without the consent of Indigenous populations. This complex legacy must be recognized in the interpretation and presentation of the charter. As noted by Cody Groat, the charter granted HBC the power to act as both a corporation and a government, including making laws and treaties. These historical realities will need to be part of the ongoing dialogue about the charter’s place in Canada’s story.

Ultimately, this acquisition is a critical step in safeguarding Canada's past, but it also signals an ongoing responsibility to engage with that history in a meaningful and inclusive way. The efforts of the Weston family and David Thomson, along with the support of various Canadian institutions, offer a rare opportunity to reflect on the document’s significance in both its historical and contemporary contexts. The eventual court approval of this sale will further cement this acquisition as a key moment in the preservation of Canada's national heritage.

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• A 355-year-old Royal Charter that survived the blitz auctioned for $13m in Canada