Joseph Cunard
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Joseph Cunard (1799 – January 16, 1865) was a merchant, shipbuilder and political figure in
New Brunswick New Brunswick is a Provinces and Territories of Canada, province of Canada, bordering Quebec to the north, Nova Scotia to the east, the Gulf of Saint Lawrence to the northeast, the Bay of Fundy to the southeast, and the U.S. state of Maine to ...
. He represented Northumberland County in the
Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick The Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick () is the deliberative assembly of the New Brunswick Legislature, in the province of New Brunswick, Canada. The assembly's seat is located in Fredericton. It was established in Saint John ''de jure'' ...
from 1828 to 1833.


Biography

Cunard was born into a family of
United Empire Loyalist United Empire Loyalist (UEL; or simply Loyalist) is an honorific title which was first given by the 1st Lord Dorchester, the governor of Quebec and governor general of the Canadas, to American Loyalists who resettled in British North Ameri ...
German
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settlers in
Halifax, Nova Scotia Halifax is the capital and most populous municipality of the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Nova Scotia, and the most populous municipality in Atlantic Canada. As of 2024, it is estimated that the population of the H ...
, the son, along with
Samuel Samuel is a figure who, in the narratives of the Hebrew Bible, plays a key role in the transition from the biblical judges to the United Kingdom of Israel under Saul, and again in the monarchy's transition from Saul to David. He is venera ...
,
Henry Henry may refer to: People and fictional characters * Henry (given name), including lists of people and fictional characters * Henry (surname) * Henry, a stage name of François-Louis Henry (1786–1855), French baritone Arts and entertainmen ...
and
John John is a common English name and surname: * John (given name) * John (surname) John may also refer to: New Testament Works * Gospel of John, a title often shortened to John * First Epistle of John, often shortened to 1 John * Second E ...
, of
Abraham Cunard Abraham Cunard (1756 – January 10, 1824) was a United Empire Loyalist carpenter, timber merchant, and ship owner from Halifax, Nova Scotia, best known as the father of shipping magnate Samuel Cunard. Biography Abraham Cunard was a descendan ...
and Margaret Murphy. In the year of his birth, his father was named master carpenter of the
Royal Engineers The Corps of Royal Engineers, usually called the Royal Engineers (RE), and commonly known as the ''Sappers'', is the engineering arm of the British Army. It provides military engineering and other technical support to the British Armed Forces ...
at the Halifax garrison. Cunard was educated in Halifax and entered his father's firm. Around 1820, with his brothers Henry and Samuel, he opened a branch of the family timber business in
Chatham, New Brunswick Chatham () is an urban neighbourhood in the city of Miramichi, New Brunswick, Miramichi, New Brunswick, Canada. Prior to municipal amalgamation in 1995, Chatham was an incorporated town in Northumberland County, New Brunswick, Northumberland Co ...
. The firm operated mills, wharves, a store and shipyards there. The business expanded to include operations at Shippegan, Kouchibouguac,
Richibucto Richibucto is a former town in Kent County, New Brunswick, Canada. It held town status prior to 2023 and is now part of the town of Beaurivage. Geography The town is situated on the Richibucto River where it discharges into the Northumberl ...
and Bathurst. In 1831 the company purchased stores, houses, and other buildings at Bathurst and the next year began shipping timber. Exports of lumber from Bathurst rose from 1,300 tons in 1829 to 26,500 tons in 1833. In 1832 Joseph Cunard was described as one of the wealthiest and most influential merchants in the province. At Chatham his firm owned several mills, including a large steam mill which began operations in 1836 and sawed 40,000 feet of lumber a day. In the same town the firm also had a brickworks, several stores, a counting house employing 30 people, and at least two shipyards. In 1831 the firm purchased a significant quantity of real estate at Bathurst and the next year began shipping timber: exports of lumber from Bathurst rose more than 20-fold in the four years from 1829. Cunard was also a justice of the peace and served on the board of health for Northumberland county. In 1833, he was named to the province's
Legislative Council A legislative council is the legislature, or one of the legislative chambers, of a nation, colony, or subnational division such as a province or state. It was commonly used to label unicameral or upper house legislative bodies in the Brit ...
. Cunard also served on the province's Executive Council from 1838 to 1843. He competed with the firm Gilmour, Rankin, and Company for control of timber reserves along the
Miramichi River The Miramichi River is a river located in the east-central part of New Brunswick, Canada. The river drains into Miramichi Bay in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. The name may have been derived from the Montagnais words "Maissimeu Assi" (meaning Mi'km ...
. In November 1847, after having overextended himself financially, Cunard was forced to declare bankruptcy which put many people in the region out of work. In 1848, Cunard's assignees were able to launch from the shipyard which had formerly belonged to him in Bathurst a small brigantine. The brothers Andrew and George Smith appear to have then taken up the assets in Bathurst, and built ships there until 1868. In 1850, Cunard left New Brunswick for good and settled at
Liverpool Liverpool is a port City status in the United Kingdom, city and metropolitan borough in Merseyside, England. It is situated on the eastern side of the River Mersey, Mersey Estuary, near the Irish Sea, north-west of London. With a population ...
in
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where he again entered business selling ships, lumber and goods on a commission basis for merchants in the colonies. He died there in 1865 and is buried in
Toxteth Park cemetery Toxteth Park Cemetery is a graveyard on Smithdown Road, Liverpool, United Kingdom. It was opened on Monday 9 June 1856. It was the responsibility of the Toxteth Park Burial Board, which had been established by at least 1855. The opening ceremon ...
.


Legacy

In April 1833, he married Mary Peters. Together they gave birth to four sons and one daughter, although it is noted that one of his sons died while quite young. Cunard is memorialized in street names in Chatham and Bathurst, which at one time was his wharf.


Ship built at Chatham

Cunard subcontracted from 1827 to 1838 shipbuilding on the Miramichi. By 1839 he had two shipyards of his own in Chatham, where he launched at least 43 vessels including the ''Velocity'', which was in 1846 the first steamboat constructed on the Miramichi.


Ships built at Bathurst

Cunard seems to have been the only shipbuilder at Bathurst from 1841 to 1847. His draughtsman was Gavin Rainnie. While Cunard purchased in the 1820s several small properties in Bathurst, it does not appear that he made Bathurst the centre of his operations until well after the great 1825 Miramichi Fire, upon which he needed a new source of timber for his ships. The Cunard shipyard was located on Main Street where the paper mill oil tanks used to be located. He purchased, amongst many others, the Gould grant of 2,000ac which covers the area between Murray Avenue and Sutherland Avenue, and as far south as the South Bathurst parish graveyard. * 1839: ''Jane'' 300 DWT, ''Susan'' 300 DWT, ''Caroline'' 400 DWT * 1840: ''Trio'' 194 DWT, ''Henry'' 400 DWT, ''Larch'' 344 DWT * 1841: ''Acapulco'' 350 DWT, ''Bathurst'' 472 DWT, ''Durango'' 350 DWT, ''Gloucester'' 350 DWT, ''Lima'' 205 DWT * 1842: ''Irene'' 321 DWT * 1843: ''Larch'' 444 DWT * 1845: ''Louisa'' 1043 DWT, ''Ouzel Galley'' 300 DWT * 1846: ''Sobraon'' 256 DWT, ''Hydaspes'' 595 DWT, ''Pakinham'' 740 DWT, ''Sutlej'' 659 DWT * 1847: ''Essequibo'' 342 DWT, ''London'' 692 DWT


Ships built at Richibucto

Cunard began operations around 1840 in
Richibucto Richibucto is a former town in Kent County, New Brunswick, Canada. It held town status prior to 2023 and is now part of the town of Beaurivage. Geography The town is situated on the Richibucto River where it discharges into the Northumberl ...
and Kouchibouguac, where he constructed at least nine vessels before the demise of his firm.


Notes


References

* * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Cunard, Joseph 1799 births 1865 deaths 19th-century members of the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick Politicians from Halifax, Nova Scotia People from Miramichi, New Brunswick Members of the Legislative Council of New Brunswick Colony of New Brunswick people
Joseph Joseph is a common male name, derived from the Hebrew (). "Joseph" is used, along with " Josef", mostly in English, French and partially German languages. This spelling is also found as a variant in the languages of the modern-day Nordic count ...