Richard Leader

Richard Leader (1609–1661) was an English businessman who was the first manager of the Saugus Iron Works, the first integrated ironworks in North America. He later engaged in business in Maine and Barbados.

Early life Leader was born in 1609. They had two children together.

Saugus Iron Works

It is unknown how Leader acquired his knowledge in metallurgy, but it is likely that he had some contact with the Irish ironmaking industry. Leader leased the site from Thomas Dexter for £40, until May 1647, when Leader bought him out. In 1650, Leader, who had encountered difficulties with the Undertakers, left the Iron Works and was replaced by John Gifford. In May 1651, Leader was found guilty of reproaching the church and government. He was fined £200, later reduced to £50. He made an acknowledgment and paid the fine.

Maine and Barbados After leaving the iron works, Leader attempted to mine copper at John Endecott's farm in Salem, Massachusetts (now part of present-day Topsfield). The business was not successful. In 1650, Leader moved to South Berwick, Maine (then part of Kittery), where he had been granted the exclusive right to use the Little River to erect mills. The sawmill, which had nineteen saws, was called the "Great Works" and did a great deal of business until it was stopped due to a legal dispute with the heirs of John Mason.

In 1652, Leader became a magistrate. When the Massachusetts Bay Colony extended their jurisdiction into the Province of Maine, Leader went to London to protest on behalf of the government of Edward Godfrey. On April 3, 1652, Leader purchased a house and farm in Strawbery Banke (New Hampshire) for £180. He sold the property in 1655 to the Cutts brothers. He was described by the Cutts as "brother Leader", so it is supposed that he was married to a member of that family by this time. He died in Kittery on December 27, 1661. He was survived by two daughters, Elizabeth Hole, who was killed by Native Americans on May 4, 1705, and Anna Clark of Portsmouth, New Hampshire, who lived until at least 1723.