1670 — Charles II signs "Charter of the Governor and Company of Adventurers of England Trading into Hudson Bay," granting the Hudson's Bay Company a huge swath of land surrounding the Hudson Bay. Prince Rupert, the HBC's leader, is named the area's first governor.

1671 — The Wivenhoe and the Prince Rupert return to England from the bay with a boatload of furs, improving prospects for fur trade.

1676 — The HBC exports British goods worth $650 and returns with a profit of $19,000.

1682 — Prince Rupert dies. James, Duke of York (later King James II), succeeds him. The HBC loses four of its five forts on the bay to the French, retaining only Fort Albany.

1697 — Pierre Le Moyne d'Iberville defeats the HBC ships Hudson's Bay, Hampshire, and Dering. Fort Nelson is burned. The Treaty of Ryswick is signed, giving the French control of all settlements along the bay for 17 years.

1713 — Treaty of Utrecht returns the Hudson Bay area to Britain.