Fort Astoria was founded as the first permanent US settlement this side of the Rocky Mountains in 1811 by the American Fur Company, which was owned by famous New York millionaire John Jacob Astor. However, the British took control from 1813-1818 and Fort Astoria was renamed Fort George. It came back into American hands during the “Oregon Country” period, when the Brits and US shared joint occupation of the Pacific Northwest until 1846, when President James K Polk managed to secure everything between the 49th parallel and California.