Simpson  Thomas
(02.07.1808–14.06.1840)

The main merchant of the Hudson’s company.
Born in Dingval, Rosshire, Ireland, he was educated at King's College in Aberdeen. Simpson could make a brilliant career at the University of Aberdeen, but at the end of his studies he left for Canada and entered the service of the Hudson company. In it the thirst for travel prevailed. He set himself a goal no more and no less than the opening of the Northwest Passage.
In 1837–1839 Simpson, together with P. Dease for the Company's money, made a trip, the purpose of which was to explore the North American coast in two more unexplored areas: the west - between Cape Barrow and Cape Povorny in the eastern part of the Huda River Delta, which in 1821 reached J. Franklin, and east - between the mouth of the river Mednorudnaya and the peninsula of Butia.
In 1837, they descended from Fort Chipevayan on Lake Athabasca along the Great Slave and Mackenzie Rivers, reached the sea and walked west along the coast, breaking 500 km - more than the J. Franklin party in 1826.
After wintering in 1837–1838 on the shore of Lake Bolshoi Medvezhiy, in the spring the expedition headed towards the Mednorudnaya estuary. From it went to the east, circled around Cape Barrow and passed the area of research of J. Franklin in 1821. Walking along the coast, we saw the island of Victoria in the north.
After wintering again on the shore of the Great Bear Lake in the following 1839, the boats “Castor” and “Pollux” with good ice conditions passed to the mouth of the Big Fish River, studied by J. Bak in 1833–1835, and further to the mouth of a small river the southern part of the peninsula Butiya, calling it Castor and Pollux. On the way back, we visited King William Island, where after nine years Franklin's expedition would find its end.
The Simpson and Dis expedition traveled 2,400 km in boats, which was a record for the Arctic. The results are superior to what was achieved by their predecessors in the area. Although the Royal Geographical Society awarded Simpson with a gold medal, their remarkable achievements were not duly noted. They were looked upon as simple industrialists, not having the right to stand on a par with naval officers.
Simpson's end was tragic.

There are three main competing points of view on the circumstances of his death: 1) official - while in an insane state, Simpson killed two of his comrades, and then committed suicide. 2) conspiracy theories: Simpson's comrades killed him, possibly for his documents, and then concealed the crime. 3) shootout theory - Simpson attacked his comrades, killing two, but then was shot by others, who came up with a story of suicide because they were afraid that his fame could lead to accusations against them.

Simpson was buried in a nameless grave in Canada.
Peninsula east of the peninsula Butiya. Discovered by J. Rae in 1846–1847.
Cape on the north coast of Alaska near Cape Barrow. Discovered in 1837 by the expedition of Dease – Simpson.
Cape in the east of Herschel Island off the coast of North America in the Beaufort Sea.

Cape in the south of Committi Bay on the northern coast of Canada.

The cliff to the west of Queen Maud Bay in northern Canada in the Beaufort Sea.

A bay in the southwest of the island of Victoria in the Canadian Arctic Archipelago.

A lagoon in the Beaufort Sea between the mainland and the Jones Islands east of the longitude 150° W.

Lake northwest of Big Bear Lake.
A lake in northern Canada west of Pelly Bay.

The strait separating keenly King William from the North American continent.