William Pagan
Encyclopedia
William Pagan was a Scottish
-born merchant and political figure in New Brunswick
. He represented Saint John County in the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick
from 1786 to 1816.
He was born in Glasgow
, the son of William Pagan, a dealer in sugar, and Margaret Maxwell. By 1766, he was master of his own ship, involved in the sugar trade between the West Indies and North America. Pagan established a business in New York City
and later joined his brothers Robert
and Thomas, who were based in Massachusetts
, in the business of trading timber for goods from Scotland and the West Indies. Later, the brothers settled east of the Penobscot River
in what is now part of Maine
, expecting that this area would become part of a loyalist colony. In 1783, when it became clear where the border would be established, Pagan settled in Saint John, New Brunswick
. He established a firm involved in trading goods with Britain and was also involved in shipbuilding. He also served on the town council for Saint John. During the War of 1812
, Pagan was a partner in operating privateer
ships. He helped found St. Andrew's Church in Saint John and served as the first president of the local Saint Andrew's Society. He was a member of the New Brunswick Council from 1817 until his death in Saint John two years later; as a member of the Church of Scotland
, Pagan was the first council member who did not belong to the Church of England.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
-born merchant and political figure in New Brunswick
New Brunswick
New Brunswick is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the only province in the federation that is constitutionally bilingual . The provincial capital is Fredericton and Saint John is the most populous city. Greater Moncton is the largest Census Metropolitan Area...
. He represented Saint John County in the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick
Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick
The Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick is located in Fredericton. It was established de jure when the colony was created in 1784, but only came in to session in 1786 following the first elections in late 1785. Until 1891, it was the lower house in a bicameral legislature when its upper house...
from 1786 to 1816.
He was born in Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
, the son of William Pagan, a dealer in sugar, and Margaret Maxwell. By 1766, he was master of his own ship, involved in the sugar trade between the West Indies and North America. Pagan established a business in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
and later joined his brothers Robert
Robert Pagan
Robert Pagan was a Scottish-born merchant, judge and political figure in New Brunswick. He represented Charlotte County in the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick from 1786 to 1819....
and Thomas, who were based in Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
, in the business of trading timber for goods from Scotland and the West Indies. Later, the brothers settled east of the Penobscot River
Penobscot River
The Penobscot River is a river in the U.S. state of Maine. Including the river's West Branch and South Branch increases the Penobscot's length to , making it the second longest river system in Maine and the longest entirely in the state. Its drainage basin contains .It arises from four branches...
in what is now part of Maine
Maine
Maine is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south, New Hampshire to the west, and the Canadian provinces of Quebec to the northwest and New Brunswick to the northeast. Maine is both the northernmost and easternmost...
, expecting that this area would become part of a loyalist colony. In 1783, when it became clear where the border would be established, Pagan settled in Saint John, New Brunswick
Saint John, New Brunswick
City of Saint John , or commonly Saint John, is the largest city in the province of New Brunswick, and the first incorporated city in Canada. The city is situated along the north shore of the Bay of Fundy at the mouth of the Saint John River. In 2006 the city proper had a population of 74,043...
. He established a firm involved in trading goods with Britain and was also involved in shipbuilding. He also served on the town council for Saint John. During the War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
, Pagan was a partner in operating privateer
Privateer
A privateer is a private person or ship authorized by a government by letters of marque to attack foreign shipping during wartime. Privateering was a way of mobilizing armed ships and sailors without having to spend public money or commit naval officers...
ships. He helped found St. Andrew's Church in Saint John and served as the first president of the local Saint Andrew's Society. He was a member of the New Brunswick Council from 1817 until his death in Saint John two years later; as a member of the Church of Scotland
Church of Scotland
The Church of Scotland, known informally by its Scots language name, the Kirk, is a Presbyterian church, decisively shaped by the Scottish Reformation....
, Pagan was the first council member who did not belong to the Church of England.