James M. Ryan
Encyclopedia
James Ryan businessman, oldest of seven sons and two daughters of Mary Ellen Fleming and Michael Ryan was born in Bonavista
, Newfoundland
, Canada
.
Ryan married Katherine McCarthy of Carbonear
, at Roxbury, Massachusetts
on March 2, 1897. Ryan one of the wealthiest people in Newfoundland and founder of a business that eventually became a Newfoundland historic property called Ryan Premises
.
On October 20, 1857 when Ryan was just 15 years old, he and his father started a fishery supply business and public house at Bailey's Cove
, a section of Bonavista. This became a successful enterprise and in 1869 Ryan had acquired enough capital to purchase the business premises formerly owned by William Keen
. Incorporated in 1870 as James Ryan and Company, the enterprise had expanded beyond Bonavista to other communities along the coast. Trading operations were soon established at Elliston
, Catalina
, Bay de Verde
, Open Hall
and Plate Cove.
With his brother Daniel they established a separate business at King's Cove
in 1875 and another at Trinity
in 1906. The Ryan empire was expanding rapidly and in the nid-1890's they acquired the fishing premises of J. and W. Stewart at Greenspond
, which became an integral part of the Ryan mercantile empire. They also operated their own summer fishing stations in Labrador
, at such places as Hawk's Harbour and Batteaux.
Ryan's businesses were one of the last of Newfoundland firms to use shop assistants who were trained in England
, thereby assuring that his employees would be well-versed in the products they were selling. Another important aspect of his business successes was that he dealt directly with the English
suppliers and not through the St. John's
middlemen
.
In 1905 Ryan located his main residence to St. John's and built a home, which took 2 years (1909–1911), on Rennie's Mill Road
, one of the wealthiest parts of the city. It was an imposing structure that was built to his specifications and known simply as The House
, where it still stands today. Appointed to the Legislative Council
in 1913, he spent four rather quiet years as a member of that chamber before his death at St. John's on September 19, 1917.
James and his brother Daniel were two of the wealthiest men in Newfoundland at the turn of the century. After James death his final bequests included funding for Mount Cashel Orphanage
, Belvedere Orphanage, the Church of England Orphanage, the Methodist Orphanage and a trust fund to form a permanent relief fund for the poor of Bonavista.
Ryan's Bonavista operations and his various subsidiary companies carried on business until his son Herbert died in 1978. The premises remained dormant for a time before being acquired by Parks Canada
in 1991.
Bonavista, Newfoundland and Labrador
Bonavista is a town on the Bonavista Peninsula, Newfoundland in the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. Unlike many Newfoundland coastal settlements, Bonavista was built on an open plain, not in a steep cove, and thus had room to expand to its current area of 31.5 square...
, Newfoundland
Newfoundland and Labrador
Newfoundland and Labrador is the easternmost province of Canada. Situated in the country's Atlantic region, it incorporates the island of Newfoundland and mainland Labrador with a combined area of . As of April 2011, the province's estimated population is 508,400...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
.
Ryan married Katherine McCarthy of Carbonear
Carbonear, Newfoundland and Labrador
Carbonear is a town on the Avalon Peninsula in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. As of 2006, there are 4,723 people living in Carbonear, down from 4,759 in 2001.-History:...
, at Roxbury, Massachusetts
Roxbury, Massachusetts
Roxbury is a dissolved municipality and current neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts, United States. It was one of the first towns founded in the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1630, and became a city in 1846 until annexed to Boston on January 5, 1868...
on March 2, 1897. Ryan one of the wealthiest people in Newfoundland and founder of a business that eventually became a Newfoundland historic property called Ryan Premises
Ryan Premises
The Ryan Premises is a Canadian National Historic Site located in the town of Bonavista, Newfoundland and Labrador. It is preserved as an example of a large-scale merchant operation in a Newfoundland outport....
.
On October 20, 1857 when Ryan was just 15 years old, he and his father started a fishery supply business and public house at Bailey's Cove
Bailey's Cove, Newfoundland and Labrador
Bailey's Cove is a Canadian hamlet in the Bonavista District of the province of Newfoundland and Labrador.-See also:*List of communities in Newfoundland and Labrador...
, a section of Bonavista. This became a successful enterprise and in 1869 Ryan had acquired enough capital to purchase the business premises formerly owned by William Keen
William Keen
William Keen was a sheep merchant in St. John's who became the first resident judicial officer in the British colony of Newfoundland.-Biography:...
. Incorporated in 1870 as James Ryan and Company, the enterprise had expanded beyond Bonavista to other communities along the coast. Trading operations were soon established at Elliston
Elliston, Newfoundland and Labrador
Elliston is an incorporated fishing settlement situated on the Bonavista Peninsula of Newfoundland, Canada. Incorporated in 1965, the town of Elliston was once called Bird Island Cove and it is composed of a number of communities, North Side, Noder Cover, Elliston Centre, Elliston Point, Porter's...
, Catalina
Catalina, Newfoundland and Labrador
Catalina is a community located on the eastern side of the Bonavista Peninsula, in the province of Newfoundland, Canada. Catalina adjoins the union town of Port Union, the town built for and home to the Fisherman's Union Company established by Sir William Coaker.The name of the town is purported by...
, Bay de Verde
Bay de Verde, Newfoundland and Labrador
Bay de Verde is an incorporated town in Conception Bay on the northern tip of the Bay de Verde Peninsula of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. The first recorded inhabitants at Bay de Verde arrived in 1662. Bay de Verde became an incorporated town in 1950.-Geography:Bay de Verde is the northern...
, Open Hall
Open Hall, Newfoundland and Labrador
Open Hall-Red Cliffe is a designated place in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.-History:Open Hall was settled around 1770 by Joseph Batt. Joseph Batt held a fishing room in Greenspond in 1769, however he moved from there to Open Hall in the next year...
and Plate Cove.
With his brother Daniel they established a separate business at King's Cove
King's Cove, Newfoundland and Labrador
King's Cove is a town in the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. The town had a population of 121 in the Canada 2006 Census. In 1940 it had a population of 345 and in 1956 it was 262. The Post Office was established in 1851. Its founder was James Aylward from Keels. Who was born in...
in 1875 and another at Trinity
Trinity, Newfoundland and Labrador
Trinity is a small town located on Trinity Bay in Newfoundland and Labrador.The harbour at Trinity was first used by fishing ships around the 16th century. The Portuguese explorer Gaspar Corte-Real is said to have named this place because he arrived here on Trinity Sunday in 1501. It was settled by...
in 1906. The Ryan empire was expanding rapidly and in the nid-1890's they acquired the fishing premises of J. and W. Stewart at Greenspond
Greenspond, Newfoundland and Labrador
Greenspond is one of the communities that comprise an area on the northeast coast of the Island of Newfoundland, called Bonavista North. These communities have a shared history in that they were settled by people from England, predominantly from the West Country - Dorset, Devon, Somerset and...
, which became an integral part of the Ryan mercantile empire. They also operated their own summer fishing stations in Labrador
Labrador
Labrador is the distinct, northerly region of the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. It comprises the mainland portion of the province, separated from the island of Newfoundland by the Strait of Belle Isle...
, at such places as Hawk's Harbour and Batteaux.
Ryan's businesses were one of the last of Newfoundland firms to use shop assistants who were trained in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, thereby assuring that his employees would be well-versed in the products they were selling. Another important aspect of his business successes was that he dealt directly with the English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
suppliers and not through the St. John's
St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador
St. John's is the capital and largest city in Newfoundland and Labrador, and is the oldest English-founded city in North America. It is located on the eastern tip of the Avalon Peninsula on the island of Newfoundland. With a population of 192,326 as of July 1, 2010, the St...
middlemen
Reseller
A reseller is a company or individual that purchases goods or services with the intention of reselling them rather than consuming or using them. This is usually done for profit...
.
In 1905 Ryan located his main residence to St. John's and built a home, which took 2 years (1909–1911), on Rennie's Mill Road
Rennie's Mill Road
Rennies Mill is an east end neighbourhood in St. John's, Newfoundland and LabradorIn the aftermath of the city's Great Fire of 1846, Rennie's Mill Road was developed as a residential area where the prosperous residents sought tranquil and safe accommodations away from the crowded downtown core...
, one of the wealthiest parts of the city. It was an imposing structure that was built to his specifications and known simply as The House
The House
The House might refer to:* The House , a political radio programme in Canada.* The House , a 1996 BBC series about the Royal Opera House, London...
, where it still stands today. Appointed to the Legislative Council
Legislative Council of Newfoundland
The Legislative Council of Newfoundland was established in 1854 when the British Government granted a new constitution to Newfoundland establishing an Executive Council of not more than seven members of the majority party and a Legislative Council of not more than 15 members upon nomination of the...
in 1913, he spent four rather quiet years as a member of that chamber before his death at St. John's on September 19, 1917.
James and his brother Daniel were two of the wealthiest men in Newfoundland at the turn of the century. After James death his final bequests included funding for Mount Cashel Orphanage
Mount Cashel Orphanage
The Mount Cashel Orphanage is a former Canadian orphanage that was operated by the Congregation of Christian Brothers. It was located in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador....
, Belvedere Orphanage, the Church of England Orphanage, the Methodist Orphanage and a trust fund to form a permanent relief fund for the poor of Bonavista.
Ryan's Bonavista operations and his various subsidiary companies carried on business until his son Herbert died in 1978. The premises remained dormant for a time before being acquired by Parks Canada
Parks Canada
Parks Canada , also known as the Parks Canada Agency , is an agency of the Government of Canada mandated to protect and present nationally significant natural and cultural heritage, and foster public understanding, appreciation, and enjoyment in ways that ensure their ecological and commemorative...
in 1991.