Fort Vancouver Tapestry

12. John McLoughlin

Chief Factor

Panel 12

Sponsored by: Jan & Steve Oliva
A portrait of Chief Factor Dr. John McLoughlin is featured. He was from Scotland, hence the Scottish greeting in the top border. Dr. McLoughlin provided vital assistance to settlers traveling out on the Oregon Trail. He supplied feed and tools, and encouraged people to settle in the area.  In the bottom border is a hand dropping a seed into another hand. This is the beginning of  “the old apple tree”. A visitor had a seed in his pocket and gave it to Dr. McLoughlin, who planted and nurtured it; the tree survives to this day – the oldest in the Northwest - in the city of Vancouver.