Interesting article on Wikipedia about the Hudson’s Bay Company:

Hudson’s Bay Company (HBC; Compagnie de la Baie d’Hudson in French) is the oldest commercial corporation in North America and is one of the oldest in the world. It was once the de facto government in parts of North America before European-based colonies and nation states existed. It was at one time the largest landowner in the world, with Rupert’s Land being a large part of North America. From its longtime headquarters at York Factory on Hudson Bay, it controlled the fur trade throughout much of British-controlled North America for several centuries, undertaking early exploration and functioning as the de facto government in many areas of the continent before the arrival of large-scale settlement. Its traders and trappers forged early relationships with many groups of First Nations/Native Americans and its network of trading posts formed the nucleus for later official authority in many areas of western Canada and the United States. In the late 19th century, its vast territory became the largest component in the newly formed Dominion of Canada, in which the company was the largest private landowner.

Also see Rupert’s Land… my knowledge of Canadian history - it turns out - totally sucks.

Also also see: Dutch East India Company, formed in 1602 as the first multi-national corporation and the first to issue stock. [Side note: could the Catholic Church be considered as a multi-national corporation (at least loosely)?]