New Britain (Canada)
Encyclopedia
New Britain historically referred to the North-eastern reaches of British America
, itself loosely divided into the territories of New South Wales, New North Wales, and Labrador
. The name “Labrador” predates mention of “New Britain” by more than 100 years.
east of Hudson Bay
to Labrador, what is currently Nunavik
(Northern Quebec
). The region was given this name by Captain Luke Fox
e in 1631.
in 1613. The south west coast of Hudson Bay was called New South Wales, after his native land, by the Welshman Thomas James
on 20 August 1631, during a voyage of discovery in search of a Northwest Passage into the South Sea. It was 139 years later that James Cook gave the same name to the east coast of New Holland.
The name "New South Wales" appeared in Emanuel Bowen
's Complete System of Geography of 1747. Maps of the era (e.g., Samuel Dunn’s in 1778) show the territory extending along the Ontario
coast of Hudson Bay from Hannah Bay and into Manitoba
as far as the mouth of the Nelson River
.
After the District of Keewatin
was established in 1876, the name fell into disuse for the area.
(1771), Okak
(1776), and Hopedale
(1782).
British America
For American people of British descent, see British American.British America is the anachronistic term used to refer to the territories under the control of the Crown or Parliament in present day North America , Central America, the Caribbean, and Guyana...
, itself loosely divided into the territories of New South Wales, New North Wales, and Labrador
Labrador
Labrador is the distinct, northerly region of the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. It comprises the mainland portion of the province, separated from the island of Newfoundland by the Strait of Belle Isle...
. The name “Labrador” predates mention of “New Britain” by more than 100 years.
New North Wales
The historical name for the region of CanadaCanada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
east of Hudson Bay
Hudson Bay
Hudson Bay , sometimes called Hudson's Bay, is a large body of saltwater in northeastern Canada. It drains a very large area, about , that includes parts of Ontario, Quebec, Saskatchewan, Alberta, most of Manitoba, southeastern Nunavut, as well as parts of North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota,...
to Labrador, what is currently Nunavik
Nunavik
Nunavik comprises the northern third of the province of Quebec, Canada. Covering a land area of 443,684.71 km² north of the 55th parallel, it is the homeland of the Inuit of Quebec...
(Northern Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
). The region was given this name by Captain Luke Fox
Luke Fox
Luke Foxe was an English explorer, born in Kingston-upon-Hull, Yorkshire, who searched for the Northwest Passage across North America. In 1631, he sailed much of the western Hudson Bay before concluding no such passage was possible. Foxe Basin, Foxe Channel and Foxe Peninsula were named after him...
e in 1631.
New South Wales
The historical name for the region of Canada west and south of Hudson Bay. It was named and mapped by Thomas ButtonThomas Button
Sir Thomas Button was a Welsh officer of the Royal Navy and explorer who in 1612–1613 commanded an expedition that unsuccessfully attempted to locate explorer Henry Hudson and to navigate the Northwest Passage. It was, nonetheless, a voyage of discovery andThomas Button was an explorer as...
in 1613. The south west coast of Hudson Bay was called New South Wales, after his native land, by the Welshman Thomas James
Thomas James
Thomas James was an English librarian, first librarian of the Bodleian Library, Oxford.James became a fellow of New College, Oxford in 1593...
on 20 August 1631, during a voyage of discovery in search of a Northwest Passage into the South Sea. It was 139 years later that James Cook gave the same name to the east coast of New Holland.
The name "New South Wales" appeared in Emanuel Bowen
Emanuel Bowen
Emanuel Bowen was an English map engraver, who worked for George II of England and Louis XV of France as a geographerHe published a 'Complete Atlas of Geography,' 1744-7; an 'English Atlas, with a new set of maps,' 1745; a 'Complete Atlas .....
's Complete System of Geography of 1747. Maps of the era (e.g., Samuel Dunn’s in 1778) show the territory extending along the Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
coast of Hudson Bay from Hannah Bay and into Manitoba
Manitoba
Manitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other...
as far as the mouth of the Nelson River
Nelson River
The Nelson River is a river of north-central North America, in the Canadian province of Manitoba. Its full length is , it has mean discharge of , and has a drainage basin of , of which is in the United States...
.
After the District of Keewatin
District of Keewatin
The District of Keewatin was a territory of Canada and later an administrative district of the Northwest Territories.The name "Keewatin" comes from Algonquian roots—either kīwēhtin in Cree or giiwedin in Ojibwe—both of which mean north wind in their respective languages...
was established in 1876, the name fell into disuse for the area.
Labrador
During the “New Britain” era the only European settlements in Labrador were the Moravian Church missions at NainNain, Newfoundland and Labrador
Nain or Naina is the northernmost town of any size in the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador, located about 370 kilometres by air from Happy Valley-Goose Bay. The town was established as a Moravian mission in 1771 by Jens Haven and other missionaries...
(1771), Okak
Okak, Newfoundland and Labrador
Okak is a former community located at on Okak Bay in northern Labrador. It was founded in 1776 by Jens Haven, a missionary of the Moravian Church....
(1776), and Hopedale
Hopedale, Newfoundland and Labrador
Hopedale is a town located in the North of Labrador, the mainland portion of the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. Hopedale is the legislative capital of the Inuit Land Claims Area Nunatsiavut, and where the Nunatsiavut Assembly meets...
(1782).
External links
- Map from 1662.
- Worcester, Joseph Emerson. Elements of Geography, Ancient and Modern, with an Atlas.
- Carte du Canada ou la nouvelle France.
