In the early 1800s, two great companies, the North West Company and the Honorable Hudson Bay Company struggled for hegemony in western Canada. When it took over the North West Company, the Honorable HBC had no presence on the coast. Therefore the HBC simply absorbed the NWC, and appointed its most respected NWC leader, John McLoughlin as Governor.
The direct predecessor to British Columbia was actually the North West Company doing business as the Hudson Bay Company.