Realistic ways in which Alaska ends up British, thus Canadian, and not American?

  I do remember hearing somewhere that Britain deliberately avoided attacking Alaska during the Crimean War to avoid upsetting the US, although how accurate that is I don't know.  There were naval and marine activities in the Russian far east during the conflict but not against Alaska. 

  Would think that for whatever reason the US declines interest in Alaska - it was criticised as "Steward's folly" at the time and with Russia seeking to sell it to gain funds and remove a distant colony that was probably a net drain on resources Canada, which gained dominion status on 1867 could well, with British support end up buying it.  A US defeat, or even more expensive success in the civil war would be an obvious step for this but could be other issues.

  That's what I've read about the naval expedition towards St Petersburg.  Especially after the success of floating batteries in the south against a set of forts there its supposed to have be a major factor in prompting the Russians to come to terms. 

  Frankly don't know enough about the Russian position in Alaska to say what defences there were there but I suspect not many and think there was some tension if not conflict between the Russian troops and some of the local natives.  If nothing else I could see Britain claiming it as part of the peace terms to simplify the situation in western Canada and since it was seen as a drain on its assets by the Russian government that could have been accepted by them.  Technically it would have breached the Monroe Doctrine but that was still very much a paper document at this point in time.  [Although in theory I suppose this could prompt a revival of American threats to Canada which could have some interesting butterflies.]

 

  There are a few factual errors in there but covers the basic details.