Alexander Mackenzie

It took a lot of hard work to get his name to standout. But Alexander Mackenzie succeed by leaving his family and by travelling for days, months and for years , to discover the Northwest Passage from Europe to Asia . This could of caused a huge impact on his life. Also it was a enormous dream of other explorers. He was brave because he didn't know if he would ever return to his homeland!

Alexander Mackenzie was born in the year of 1764 at Stornway in the Hebrides, Scotland. Mackenzie's father Kenneth Mackenzie was married to Mary .The two had four children and they were: Alexander, Sybilla, Margaret and Murdoch (Alexander's older brother). Murdoch was a ship surgeon . He was near Halifax when he drowned from a shipwreck . The family moved to New York in 1774 . In 1776 they moved to Montreal during the American Revolution . Mary died when Alexander was only 10 years old. Kenneth died few days later from scurvy. Mackenzie moved in with his aunts. He disliked them.When he was 15 years old he left them.

Mackenzie started working in the North West Company in the year 1779. This was his first job, and a chance to have his wishes come true . Mackenzie didn't travel by ships like the other explorers, but by boats. To finish his work for this company he would travel most of the time to Lake Athabasca . That how he found in the year 1788 Fort Chipewyan. On the summer of 1789 he found a river he thought would lead him to the Northwest Passage of the Pacific. Unfortunately it lead him to the Arctic Ocean. He called it the "Disappointment River" because it did not lead to Alaska . This Mackenzie river was named by his honour. Alexander voyaged to England in 1791. There he expanded his knowledge on measurement of longitude. In 1792 he retired again to find a path to the Pacific Ocean.

Mackenzie was the first European to come across the Continental Divide and Rocky Mountains in 1793 . On July 22, 1793 he also reached the coast of the Pacific in Canada . He became the first EuroAmerican to cross North of Mexico in that year .

In 1812 Mackenzie got married to Elizabeth Brewster . They had eight sons: Archie , Johnston , James , Donald , Charles , George , Roland and Thomas. In 1820 Mackenzie died of Bright's disease .But his strength still lives!

Dear journal,

My name is Alexander Mackenzie. I was born in the year of 1794 at Stornway in the Hebrides . My family was a huge one I had three siblings. A brother Murdoch and 2 sister's named Sybilla and Margaret , I also had a mother named Mary and a father named Kenneth . My mother died when I was only ten . My father died a few days later from scurvey . I had to move in with my aunts I did not like my aunts at all .

I started working in the Northwest Company in the year 1779. This was my first job. I didn't travel by ships like the other explorers but, by boats . To finish my work for this Company I would often travel to Lake Athabaska. That's how found in the year 1788 I found Fort Chipewyan. On the summer of 1789 he found a river he thought would lead him to the Northwest Passage of the Pacific. Unfortunately it lead him to the Arctic Ocean .He called it the "Disappointment River" because, it didn't lead to Alaska. This Mackenzie river was named by his honour. I voyaged to England in 1791. There I expanded my knowledge on measurement of longitude. In 1792 I retired again to find a path to the Pacific Ocean.

In 1793 I was the first European to come across the Continental Divide and Rocky Mountain . On July 22, 1793 I also reached the coast of the Pacific in Canada . I became the first Euro-American to cross North of the Mexico in that year.

In 1812 I got married to Elizabeth Brewster. We had eight sons: Archie, Johnston , James , Donald , Charles , George , Roland and Thomas . Elizabeth and I had a great life!