Books: B.C. historian discusses explorer Peter Pond | Bellingham Herald

British Columbia historian Barry Gough shares his recently published book, “The Elusive Mr. Pond,” at 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 3, at Village Books, 1200 11th St.

While most North Americans might not recognize Pond’s name, he was a precursor to Lewis and Clark whose legendary exploits in the fur trade, including opening up the distant Arctic watershed, elevated him to become a founding partner of the fur-trading North West Company.

Those experiences, combined with his implication in two murders and reputed violent temper, make him a compelling historical figure whose life has been shrouded in mystery. In “The Elusive Mr. Pond,” Gough re-examines Pond’s memoirs, explorers’ journals, and many other sources to create a fascinating biography.

Gough is the author of the award-winning “Fortune’s a River: The Collision of Empires in Northwest America.” He lives in Victoria.