William Ryan

He may be the same William Ryan who joined the HBC in 1829, and captained the HBC brig Isabella to the Columbia River, which struck bottom when he mistook Chinook Point for Cape Disappointment there. Though George Simpson found him to have a lack of talent (though he could not complain about his character), John McLoughlin Sr. found him to be the opposite, and he captained the Vancouver to Oahu in April 1831. He was involved in the Columbia Naval Service from 1833-35 (having been demoted to first mate). This Ryan is then presumed to have retired to England but, if it is the same man, it is not unreasonable that he may have found his way back to the coast to captain the Victory given his experience.

Sources:

• Evans, Mike. “William Ryan.” BC Metis Mapping Research Project. http://ubc.bcmetis.ca/hbc_bio_profile.php?id=Mjg4Ng==.