ROBERT PAGAN, Industrialist
By the year 1790 the small community of St. Andrews was a thriving town. The active industries at the time were shipbuilding and lumbering and as a result a strong commerce center grew. The town's growth was mainly due to one man an industrialist named Robert Pagan.
Robert had three brothers named William, John, and Thomas. The four brothers were from a successful Scottish merchant family. The family immigrated and founded St. Andrews during the Revolutionary War. The Pagan family's diverse commercial interests included lumber, fishing, dry goods, and shipbuilding. Later on the company established a weekly packet service from St Andrews to Saint John.
Robert Pagan was also active in politics and represented Charlotte County in the House of Assembly for thirty-five (35) years. By 1810 Pagan was one of the richest men in New Brunswick and helped found the province's first bank as well as St. Andrew's First Presbyterian Church. Robert Pagan died in 1821.
The above information was supplied by note!
Page Mounted 16 Dec 1999
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