(Note: birth date given in original as "ca. 1765.") fur trader, b. Dumfries, Scotland. He migrated to Canada about 1781 and entered the fur trade. In 1788 he was granted a license to trade in the Upper Mississippi region, Iris marriage to a sister of Red Thunder, a prominent Sioux chief, and mastery of Indian languages made him a recognized leader and successful fur trader. Dickson became incensed over U.S. discrimination against Canadian traders, and during the War of 1812 he was influential in keeping the Northwest Indians loyal to the British. As a reward for his services he was given charge of Indian affairs for the tribes west of Lake Huron. His leadership over Wisconsin tribes was well established, but declined after the war, and he spent his remaining years in an unsuccessful attempt to establish a Canadian colony. Dict. Amer. Biog.; L. A. Tohill, R. Dickson ... [Ann Arbor, 1927]; WPA MS.

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[Source: Dictionary of Wisconsin biography]