Memorable Manitobans: William Purvis Simpson (1882-1953)

Ship captain.

Born at Chicago, Illinois on 1 June 1882, son of Joseph William Simpson (1854-1949) and Elizabeth Purvis (1859-1949), brother of Harold Edward Simpson and George Douglas Simpson, he came to Manitoba with his family in 1887 and his father managed the Northern Fish Company. He career aboard Lake Winnipeg ships began in the early 20th century when he was a crewman and later mate on the Premier before it burned at Warren's Landing in 1908. He received master's papers in 1913 and skippered the Mikado and later hauled fish on the Wolverine for three years. He was later captain of the J. W. Guest, Tempest, Highlander, Baldur (1937-1951), and Lubere (1952-1953). He died at Selkirk on 30 June 1953 and was buried in the St. Clements Mapleton Cemetery.

Sources:

1901 Canada census, Automated Genealogy.

“Lake Winnipeg pioneer skipper dies at Selkirk,” Winnipeg Free Press, 2 July 1953.

This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.

Page revised: 3 July 2022

Memorable Manitobans

Memorable Manitobans

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