 Astor intended the venture to develop a continent-wide commercial empire in fur trading.Family history states that Robert Stuart was born in Strathyre, in the historic parish of Balquhidder, but grew up in Callander, both towns in Perthshire, about northwest of Stirling, Scotland.Around 1807, he joined an uncle, David Stuart, in Montréal to work as a clerk in the fur trade for the Canadian North West Company.