Native name | Северо-Восточная компания |
|---|---|
| Industry | Fur trade |
| Founded | 1782 |
| Founder | Grigory Shelikhov |
| Defunct | 1799 |
| Fate | Ukase of 1799 |
| Successor | Russian-American Company |
| Headquarters | Irkutsk, laterSaint Petersburg |
Key people | Natalia Shelikova,Alexander Baranov |
TheShelikhov-Golikov Company (SGC) was a Russianfur trading venture, founded byIrkutsk entrepreneursGrigory Shelikhov andIvan Larionovich Golikov in 1783. Formed inEastern Siberia during the 1780s along with several competing companies, the SGC had operations inKurile Islands and areas that later becameRussian America. Russian ventures had been focused on maritime operations underpromyshlenniki, though costs had continued to rise as more distantsea otter populations had to be exploited. Centered on theKodiak and severalAleutian Islands, the majority of the company's indentured laborer was recruited among theAleut andAlutiiq nations. A common practice amongst Russian companies was to take hostages from various villages, to force maritime hunters to gather otter furs. Shelikhov led aggressions on Kodiak Island against the indigenous Alutiiqs in 1784, known as theAwa'uq Massacre, where Russian employees killed over 2,000 people according to some estimates. In consequence of the massacre, the island became fully controlled by the company.
Competing European traders were generally fellow Russian traders, principally theLebedev-Lastochkin Company. Visiting British and American ships typically paid higher rates for furs when negotiating withAlaskan Natives, which undercut the SGC trading operations. These same merchants were often the only means of supply for the scattered Russian stations, leaving the company dependent on its commercial rivals. The United American Company was created out of rival Russian companies in 1797, including the assets of Lebedev-Lastochkin Company, ensuring its commercial dominance among Russian merchants. In theUkase of 1799 the company was granted a monopoly among Russians in North America byTsar Paul I, becoming the basis of theRussian-American Company.
Both of the partners were natives ofKursk, beginning their commercial cooperation in 1783. The company was funded by the men "to sail to the land ofAliaska, which is called America, to islands known and unknown, in order to trade in furs, make explorations, and arrange voluntary trade with the natives."[1] It was also intended to sell fish and furs to ports inChina,Japan,Korea, theIndian subcontinent and thePhilippines. In return supplies needed inEastern Siberia, includingsalt andrice, would be purchased.[2]
The first company expedition was sent during 1783 under the command of Shelikhov, with the intention to make several permanenttrading posts. The first post was created atThree Saints Bay onKodiak Island in 1784. During that year, Shelikhov lead a small militia in theAwa'uq Massacre againstAlutiiqs living on the island. Before Shelikhov's departure in 1786,Promyshlenniki, Aleuts from theFox Islands and Alutiiq created company stations onCook Inlet,Cape Saint Elias andAfognak Island.[3] Shelikov's commercial activities in the Northern Pacific expanded in subsequent years. The North Eastern and Baptist companies were founded in 1790; in the following year theUnalaska Company was formed.[4][5] The operational quarters were moved toPavlovskaya in 1792.
Shelikhov departed for Irkutsk on 22 May 1786, intending to inform the Imperial Government of his commercial activities. Both he and his partner Golikov sought a monopoly amongst Russian fur traders inNorth America from EmpressCatherine II. It was argued that only a single consolidated Russian company could be effective against British and American entrepreneurs active in the region.[6] Government subsidies were petitioned for as well, hoped to bolster the operational capacity of the company. Additionally, soldiers of theRussian Imperial Army were requested to be stationed at company outposts.[7]
Ivan V. Yakoby, the Governor-General ofIrkutsk, forwarded the requests from the merchants. The official noted that because "those charged with collecting theiasak had often misused their powers", manyAlaskan Natives "shunned any allegiance and had attempted to take vengeance on the Russians in any way they could."[8] and advised the iasak be made voluntary for the indigenous of the New World. TheCollege of Commerce supporting giving Golikov and Shelikhov "a noninterest-bearing loan of 200,000 rubles, to be repaid in installments over twenty years..." as the financial advisors felt the Imperial Government could draw profits by "collecting 10 percent duties for imported and exported goods."[9] The Empress gave gifts to two merchants, pleased of their discoveries. Despite the support of government officials, Catherine refused to stray from her laissez-faire economic policies and declined granting a monopoly to the Irkutsk entrepreneurs.[6]
With Shelikhov's death in 1795 his widow,Natalia Shelikova, was left in control of the company. The various assets were amalgamated into theAmerican Company.[10] Golikov became a partner with Nikolai Mylnikov, another Irkutsk based fur trader, during 1797 in an attempt to rival Shelikhova.[5][7] Natalia delegated more responsibilities of the daily operations in Russian America uponAlexander Baranov, and used her son-in-law,Nikolai Rezanov to curry favor with the Imperial Court. TsarPaul I was found to be far more receptive to a Russian fur monopoly than his deceased mother. Rezanov was able to broker a merger with Golikov and Mylnikov on 20 July 1797,[11] creating theUnited American Company.[10] Natalia sold her assets, valued at₽688,460,[5] for ₽600,000 and reinvested a third of the proceeds as capital in the new venture.[11]
Two years later the Russian government announced theUkase of 1799, which granted a fur monopoly in Russian America to the United American Company and established theRussian-American Company.
| No. | Name | Term |
| 1 | Grigory Ivanovich Shelikhov (1747–95) | 1783 – 22 May 1786[3] |
| 2 | Konstantin Alekseevich Samoilov (fl. 1780s) | 22 May 1786[3] – 1787[12] |
| 3 | Evstratii Ivanovich Delarov (ca. 1740–1806) | 1787[12] – 27 July 1791[9] |
| 4 | Aleksandr Andreyevich Baranov (1746–1819) | 27 July 1791[11] – 1799 |
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