Spain and Britain settle a trade war
Spain and Great Britain once nearly went to war over what is now a part of Canada.
The Spanish were the first Europeans to explore and claim the Pacific Northwest. In 1493, Pope Alexander VI granted Spain a claim to any lands they discovered west of the Azores not already held by a Christian prince.
The Spanish took a liberal interpretation of the papal bull as they explored South and North America, naming geographical features after Spanish explorers, sailors and nobles. In 1775, they reached what is now British Columbia, which explains why its many islands, bays and straits have Spanish names.
In 1778, a British expedition searching for the Northwest Passage landed about 100 kilometres north of Tofino, on the west coast of Vancouver Island.
Captain James Cook’s ships were wel...