William Mactavish (29 March 1815 – 23 July 1870) was a Scottish Hudson's Bay Company clerk, accountant, and chief trader. Mainly known for his dual-position as Governor of Assiniboia, and Governor of Rupert's Land, he played a major role in the development of Western Canada. Mactavish is frequently criticized for his role in the Red River Rebellion. Biography Early life Mactavish was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, on 29 March 1815, to Dugald and Letitia Mactavish. He had 5 brothers and 3 sisters, and has been described as having a certain energy and large personality that is associated with a large family. According to one of his sisters, Letitia Mactavish Hargrave, William was much of an outdoorsman. In his early years, Mactavish was often found in the outdoors, hunting, trapping, fishing, and exploring nature; he had a major love for fishing and hunting, and a passion for all things outdoors. Letitia also described him as having a good sense of humour, and that he was a "dreamer." Further, she wrote about her brother, that William had a passion for wanting to better the human race, and had a desire to help those who needed it in his eyes. Letitia characterized William as, "the greatest and hardest worker [among the family and siblings] as well as having the best head." He has been regarded as being intelligent, well educated, and having integrity and goodness. One of Mactavish's uncle regarded him as being "well-educated," however he wondered how Scottish education would fare for Mactavish's well-being in the vastly socially different climate of Canada. Personal life In Scotland, Mactavish lived the life of bachelorhood. He had been very convinced of his single life, and was even quoted as saying, "I intend to remain as I am, single." Mactavish lived the life of bachelorhood to such an extent, that he had three supposed children in Scotland, that would be considered 'illegitimate' because they were out of wedlock. Mactavish was intent on his bachelorhood, until he met his wife, Mary Sarah McDermot, often referred to as just Sarah. With Sarah, William had four "country-born" children, two boys, and two twin girls, named James, Mary and Florence, and Andrew. His marriage to Sarah is often discussed as crucial for many reasons. The first being that it ended his determined life of being single. The second reason is that Sarah was a Métis, or 'Mixed-Blood', Catholic woman, where