Final answer:
The Hudson Bay Company was established in 1670 by traders Pierre-Esprit Radisson and Médard des Groseilliers, shaping the North American fur trade and British territorial claims.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Hudson Bay Company was formed in 1670 by two traders known as Pierre-Esprit Radisson and Médard des Groseilliers. They were instrumental in the English exploration of northern Canada and were backed by the English Crown and various investors to organize a fur trade company. This move significantly affected the fur trade dynamics in North America, notably impacting relations with local indigenous tribes and competing European powers, such as the French and the Dutch, further cementing British claims in the region.