Joseph Cunard

Joseph Cunard (1799 – January 16, 1865) was a merchant, shipbuilder and political figure in New Brunswick. He represented Northumberland County in the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick from 1828 to 1833.

Biography

Cunard was born into a family of United Empire Loyalist German Quaker settlers in Halifax, Nova Scotia, the son, along with Samuel, Henry and John, of Abraham Cunard and Margaret Murphy. In the year of his birth, his father was named master carpenter of the Royal Engineers 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. The firm operated mills, wharves, a store and shipyards there. The business expanded to include operations at Shippegan, Kouchibouguac, Richibucto 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 1850, Cunard left New Brunswick for good and settled at Liverpool in England 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.

Legacy

In April 1833, he married Mary Peters. Together they gave birth to four sons and one daughter, His draughtsman was Gavin Rainnie. 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 and Kouchibouguac, where he constructed at least nine vessels before the demise of his firm.