It’s rare to see a company founded in the 17th century still operating today—but that was the case for Hudson’s Bay Company. Once a dominant force that governed what is now Canada for over 200 years, and one of the most legendary businesses in North America, it now finds itself on the brink of bankruptcy.Today, the company owns just six remaining stores, and a judge has given it until early May to avoid full liquidation.
Origins of the company
While countries like Spain, France, and Portugal created “state-companies” focused on conquering land and establishing trade, it was the British and Dutch East India Companies that became known for ruling entire territories independently. Around 1650, two French explorers—Pierre-Esprit…
