James A McQuiston

Captain Jack: Father of the Yukon James A McQuiston

So, why'd they call him Jack?

Born Leroy Napoleon McQuesten, this Yukon legend was given the moniker of "Captain Jack" after his heroic rescue of ship and crew, on his first trip out on salt water, at the age of 22.

A magnet for nicknames, he became known as Father of the Yukon, Father of Alaska, Golden Rule McQuesten, Prince of Goodfellows and a host of other affectionate titles.

Famous authors, Jack London and Pierre Berton, were fans of Captain Jack and wrote extensively on him. Early Yukon explorers, Frederick Schwatka and William Ogilvie, did the same. Though captain of the very first steamboats on the Yukon, chief trader on the river, and grubstaker of thousands of gold miners, Jack's story has lain hidden in the pages of several dozen books and newspapers, until now.

"Captain Jack: Father of the Yukon" is the definitive work on this true American hero and his adventures in the final frontier.