he was a Protestant, Scottish man. As well, Sarah was at least thirteen years younger than William, as she was born between the years 1828 and 1841. Exact details about Sarah and William's life remain vague, due to the lack of information in Sarah's history. Finally, Mactavish seldom talked about his marriage; in fact, he neglected to discuss the news of his wedding in any prompt manner. In the later years of his life, he suffered with debilitating advanced Tuberculosis. In May 1870, Mactavish left Canada in hopes of traveling home to Scotland. Unfortunately, William did not make it home, and died in Liverpool, England on 23 July of the same year. Early career Mactavish began his career in Canada in 1833 in the HBC as a clerk at the Norway House trading post, but was shortly transferred to the York Factory trading post. As a clerk, Mactavish did accounting, inventory, and shipping, and worked long hours, often from 4:30am until 8pm. He continued his job as a clerk for 11 years, after which he was promoted and performed as an accountant from 1845 until 1846. In 1846 he was appointed as Chief Trader, and in 1847, he was transferred to Chief Trader at the Fort Garry trading post. For two years starting in 1848 he was acting as in charge of the Sault Ste. Marie trading post, and in 1851 he was made in charge of York Factory. HIs uncle, John George Mactavish, was a chief trader in the HBC, and was the reason that he was able to get his original job as a clerk. John George had Mactavish transferred to York Factory in order to work under James Hargrave, who was the Chief Trader of York Factory at the time. Hargrave was determined to have William be his successor as chief trader of York Factory, so Hargrave and John George often discussed of Mactavish with Governor George Simpson (HBC administrator), in hopes of persuading him in favour of William. While Hargrave was on leave, Simpson appointed Mactavish as in charge of York Factory, and was later placed as in charge of Sault Ste. Marie the year after. Mactavish had a pessimism for his future in the company and his advancement, because he did not like politics, however John George, Hargrave, and Simpson all had high hopes for him. Mactavish believed that the HBC had dim prospects, because