John Munn (shipbuilder)
Encyclopedia
John Munn was a Scottish-born
shipbuilder and political figure in Lower Canada
.
He was born in Irvine, Scotland in 1788, the son of a sailor, also named John Munn, and came to Quebec City
in 1801, where he began his career as a shipbuilder. In 1814, he went to Montreal
, where he manufactured ships for the government. He set up his own shipbuilding business at Quebec in 1815. Many of the ships that he built were transported to Britain
for sale. Munn, well known as a master craftman, also trained a number of shipbuilders. He also helped found Queen's College
at Kingston.
In 1837, he was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Lower Canada
for the Lower Town of Quebec in a by-election held after George Vanfelson
resigned his seat. He served on the city council for Quebec from 1840 to 1842. In 1845 and 1846, he built steamships for the People's Line of Steamers; when this company was unable to pay, Munn was forced to take back ownership of the ships. Because he had borrowed heavily from the Bank of British North America
to finance their construction, this left Munn in a bad financial position and he was later forced to sell his shipyard and other properties.
He died at Quebec in 1859.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
shipbuilder and political figure in Lower Canada
Lower Canada
The Province of Lower Canada was a British colony on the lower Saint Lawrence River and the shores of the Gulf of Saint Lawrence...
.
He was born in Irvine, Scotland in 1788, the son of a sailor, also named John Munn, and came to Quebec City
Quebec City
Quebec , also Québec, Quebec City or Québec City is the capital of the Canadian province of Quebec and is located within the Capitale-Nationale region. It is the second most populous city in Quebec after Montreal, which is about to the southwest...
in 1801, where he began his career as a shipbuilder. In 1814, he went to Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
, where he manufactured ships for the government. He set up his own shipbuilding business at Quebec in 1815. Many of the ships that he built were transported to Britain
Kingdom of Great Britain
The former Kingdom of Great Britain, sometimes described as the 'United Kingdom of Great Britain', That the Two Kingdoms of Scotland and England, shall upon the 1st May next ensuing the date hereof, and forever after, be United into One Kingdom by the Name of GREAT BRITAIN. was a sovereign...
for sale. Munn, well known as a master craftman, also trained a number of shipbuilders. He also helped found Queen's College
Queen's University
Queen's University, , is a public research university located in Kingston, Ontario, Canada. Founded on 16 October 1841, the university pre-dates the founding of Canada by 26 years. Queen's holds more more than of land throughout Ontario as well as Herstmonceux Castle in East Sussex, England...
at Kingston.
In 1837, he was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Lower Canada
Legislative Assembly of Lower Canada
The Legislative Assembly of Lower Canada was the lower house of the bicameral structure of provincial government in Lower Canada until 1838. The legislative assembly was created by the Constitutional Act of 1791...
for the Lower Town of Quebec in a by-election held after George Vanfelson
George Vanfelson
George Vanfelson was a lawyer, judge and political figure in Lower Canada.He was born in Quebec City in 1784, of German descent, and studied law with Jean-Antoine Panet. He was called to the bar in 1805. Vanfelson was a captain in the militia during the War of 1812...
resigned his seat. He served on the city council for Quebec from 1840 to 1842. In 1845 and 1846, he built steamships for the People's Line of Steamers; when this company was unable to pay, Munn was forced to take back ownership of the ships. Because he had borrowed heavily from the Bank of British North America
Bank of British North America
The Bank of British North America was founded in 1835 in London, England with offices in Toronto, Montreal, Quebec City, Saint John, New Brunswick, Halifax and St. John's, Newfoundland. It also operated agencies in New York City and San Francisco. Like the other Canadian chartered banks, it issued...
to finance their construction, this left Munn in a bad financial position and he was later forced to sell his shipyard and other properties.
He died at Quebec in 1859.