Built by the Hudson's Bay Company (HBC) to protect its fur trade, this large stone fortress took 40 years (1731-71) to complete. In 1782, a French fleet attacked the fort, then under the command of the explorer Samuel Hearne. As most of his garrison was inland preventing the Montreal traders from taking all the furs, Hearne gave in without a single shot being fired. The French commander, Comte de La Pérouse, blew up parts of the walls and set fire to the fort.