Indian trader J. (John) Long

Little is known for certain about John Long beyond what survives in his own book and later bibliographic records. The Dictionary of Canadian Biography notes that he was from London, arrived in Montreal in 1768 as an articled clerk, and spent years learning the trade before traveling in the Great Lakes and interior fur-trade regions.

Long is remembered for Voyages and Travels of an Indian Interpreter and Trader, first published in London in 1791. The work describes his experiences in the fur trade and includes observations on the peoples, trading posts, and travel routes he encountered, along with vocabulary from Chippeway and other Indigenous languages.

Because the historical record on his life is thin, his reputation rests largely on this book. That gives his writing a special value for modern readers: it is both a personal adventure account and an important early source for the history of trade, travel, and cross-cultural contact in North America.