Dugald McTavish was born in Argylshire, Scotland in 1817 and entered the service of the Hudson's Bay Company in 1832. He was appointed Chief Trader in 1846, and on July 7 of that year assumed management of the post on the Sandwich Island in place of Pelly and Allan. Subsequently McTavish served the Company at Fort Vancouver (1854-58), Fort Victoria (1859-1863) and finally in Montreal from 1865 until his death in 1871.