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Dictionary of Miramichi Biography

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BROWN, JOHN JAMES (1820-1901)

BROWN, JOHN JAMES, deep sea mariner, shipping master, and marine agent; b. Cape Breton Island, 13 Jan 1820; m. 1847, Sophia Longard, of Halifax; d. Chatham, 3 May 1901.

John James Brown "commanded ocean-going ships in his time and voyaged to the Far East." He was "one of the typical deep sea shipmasters who had navigated both Atlantic and Pacific waters in the time just preceding the introduction of the merchant steamer." One of the ships of which he was master was the John Owens, of Saint John, on which smallpox broke out in 1857 while he was carrying 460 passengers from Liverpool, England, to Australia. He later explained the measures taken to curb the spread of the illness. In the same year several passengers of the ship John Owens expressed their "gratitude and respect" for the kindness he displayed during "a severe and stormy voyage" across the Atlantic.

Around 1875 Brown retired in Chatham, where he showed himself to be "methodical in his business and just in his dealings with his fellow men." He was harbormaster from 1877 to 1879, while William Johnston was out of political favor, and he was shipping master for the port from 1882, or earlier, to 1901. In 1878 he was appointed agent for the American Shipmasters' Association in northeastern New Brunswick, his services being available to persons who needed vessels classed, examined, or insured. In 1888 he inspected the construction of the steamer St Nicholas, which was being built by James Desmond for J. B. Snowball & Co., and classed her A-1. For some time prior to his death he was also the Miramichi representative for Lloyd's shipping register. He and his wife, Sophia Longard, raised at least one daughter.

Sources

[b] census [m] Novascotian 27 Dec 1847 [d] Advocate 8 May 1901 / Advance 25 Dec 1878, 10 Nov 1881, 31 May 1888, 9 May 1901; Manny index; NB Courier 4 Apr 1857; World 24 May 1882


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