John Jacob Astor, a prominent financier and fur trader, founded the Pacific Fur Company as a key player in the early 19th-century fur trade. Recognizing the potential for significant profits from fur, particularly as demand surged across Europe and America, Astor aimed to create a strategic foothold on the western edge of North America. The Pacific Fur Company's primary objective was to establish a network of trading posts, beginning with Fort Astoria, which would serve as the hub for trade in the region. This decision came after Astor's success with his North West Company ventures, leading him to seek opportunities beyond the Rocky Mountains.

The Pacific Fur Company's establishment was not just a business venture; it reflected broader themes of American expansion and the quest for new markets. The company’s plans included the exploration and exploitation of fur resources, as well as the establishment of relationships with local Indigenous peoples, who played a crucial role in the fur trade. Astor’s design integrated European-style entrepreneurship with the realities of the diverse cultures and geography of the Pacific Northwest, embodying the complexities of early American capitalism.

Astor’s strategy involved sending out a group of traders and settlers, and by 1811, the Pacific Fur Company was operational with Fort Astoria at the mouth of the Columbia River. This fortified post catalyzed ongoing interactions with Native Americans and competitors, including the British Hudson's Bay Company. The Pacific Fur Company adapted its strategies amid fluctuating fur prices and changing geopolitical climates, ultimately contributing to the United States' territorial expansion and the flourishing of its fur industry in the years to come.