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In 1779 the North West Company was established. Around 1780 a major smallpox epidemic struck the middle Saskatchewan and resulted in the deaths of many of the native trappers, resulting in a large economic loss for the North West Company in 1782. In 1782 the French captured York Factory, Manitoba, which disrupted the HBC trade. In 1786 Pine Island Fort was built 40 miles east of the Alberta border. One of its founders was Donald McKay, who was still a "pedlar" independent of the North West Company. For subsequent history see Saskatchewan River fur trade.