Capt. William H. Troup, born in London in 1828, worked on the Pacific Mail Co. route between Panama and San Fransico in 1850, when gold miners were swarming to California. Then he came north to the Oregon Territory.

William Troup launched the steamboat Belle, which operated on the Cascades route above Vancouver in 1855. He later built the Vancouver, the first steamboat on a regular run between Vancouver and Portland. He also operated the Fannie Troup, named for one of his daughters, and had an interest in the second steamboat named Vancouver.

Lewis and Dryden's Marine History also mentions that William Troup spent time in navigation at Coos Bay, Ore., Lake Tahoe, the Stickeen River in British Columbia and in Alaska. Troup's occupation was listed as engineer.

William Troup's father-in-law was Capt. James Turnbull, born in England in 1811. He came to Oregon Territory and began his steamboat career with the Eagle, and later was involved with Troup in the son-in-law's boating activities.

Turnbull died in 1874, and William H. Troup in 1882.