Monday 26 March 2012

Adam Ferrie

Adam Ferrie was an industrialist, merchant, shipowner, and politician who moved to Montreal in 1829 in the hopes of augmenting his import-export business and re-establishing himself after suffering some business failures. He was philanthropic and set up two of his sons in the family business and also helped organize the St Andrew's Society (which helped settle newly arrived immigrants from Scotland). Unfortunately, many of his co-operative style business schemes failed, mostly through bankruptcies of his associates. As a result of this experience he took an active part in forming the Board of Trade in 1842. It is not thought that he had an enjoyable time in Montreal and at age 76 he left for Hamilton, where most of his children had settled. There was a lot of family tension and conflict especially between Adam and and his son, also Adam, (1813-1849) showing the best and worst of family businesses. He and his wife Rachel had 12 children, six of whom survived infancy. One of his sons, Colin Campbell (1808-1856), became the first mayor of Hamilton.
for a Taphophile Tragics
from the Hamilton Cemetery

4 comments:

Sondra said...

His life revolved around what he could accomplish monetarily it seems...I hope he also found love along the way...A great Bio of the man behind the stone.

VioletSky said...

It seems he may have been a little too trusting of others, therefore the failed businesses?
It must have been quite a feat for him to move (again) from Montreal to Hamilton at 76 years old after moving there in the first place in his 50s.

CaT said...

12 children! and only 6 above infancy, thats sad...
montreal is cold, maybe he didnt like that? but i dont know how cold hamilton is... :)

Julie said...

Scotland would have been colder. The think I find interesting here is that Colin Campbell took his mother's name. Not only did 6 of his children not survive infancy, but one died aged 36 and another aged 48, yet both Adam and Rachel lived into their 90s. I think in there somewhere was a hard task master. Interesting looking surname that, Ferrie.