Hudson’s Bay Company Flag

by John MacFarlane 2017

HBC Flag

Hudson’s Bay Company Flag (Photo from the John MacFarlane collection.)

The flag was officially in use by a special warrant on July 21, 1682, when Prince Rupert of the Rhine granted permission to the company to use the Red Ensign. Prior to 1869 the flag was used as both the flag of Rupert’s Land and the Hudson’s Bay Company. After Rupert’s Land was purchased by the government of Canada, the flag continued as the flag of the HBC and the new North–West Territories. After 1950, the flag was used by the HBC.

HBC Flag on Anna Olga

Hudson’s Bay Company Flag flying on the Anna Olga. (Photo from the Brabant collection.)

The current company flag is based on the Governor’s Standard bearing the company’s coat of arms (in gold on a white background), in use since 1779.

HBC Flag

Hudson’s Bay Company Flag on an unidentified trading schooner, probably in the Eastern Arctic. (Photo from the Brabant collection.)


To quote from this article please cite:

MacFarlane, John M. (2017) Hudson’s Bay Company Flag. Nauticapedia.ca 2017. http://nauticapedia.ca/Articles/HBC_Flag.php

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