Joshua Mauger (1725– 18 October 1788) was a prominent merchant and slave trader in

Halifax, Nova Scotia Halifax is the capital and largest municipality of the Canadian province of Nova Scotia, and the largest municipality in Atlantic Canada. As of the 2021 Census, the municipal population was 439,819, with 348,634 people in its urban area. The ...

(1749–60) and then went to England and became Nova Scotia's colonial agent (1762). He has been referred to as "the first great merchant and shipowner" in Halifax. He was a member of

St. Matthew's United Church (Halifax) St. Matthew's United Church is a United Church of Canada church in downtown Halifax, Nova Scotia. The church was founded at the same time as the original colony in 1749 as a home for the various groups of dissenting Protestants who were from New E ...

. Along with prominent merchant Captain

Ephraim Cook (mariner) Ephraim Cook (Cooke) (1 June 1737 in Kingston, Massachusetts - 17 November 1821, Rockville, Nova Scotia) was a mariner and prominent merchant who was instrumental in establishing Halifax, Mahone Bay, Blockhouse and Chebogue, Nova Scotia. He also ...

, Mauger pushed Governor Lawrence for an elected assembly (1757). He was born in Jersey the son of José Mauger and Sarah Le Couteur and went to sea with his uncle Matthew Mauger. He eventually became master of his own ship and settled in Halifax as an agent victualler to the British navy and a merchant. He later returned to England and became a Member of Parliament for

Poole Poole () is a large coastal town and seaport in Dorset, on the south coast of England. The town is east of Dorchester and adjoins Bournemouth to the east. Since 1 April 2019, the local authority is Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Counc ...

from 1768 to 1780. He died in 1788, having married his Uncle Matthew's daughter, with whom he had a daughter.

Legacy

Maugerville, New Brunswick Maugerville (, MAJOR-ville) is a New Brunswick unincorporated community located on the east bank of the Saint John River in Maugerville Parish, Sunbury County, in the Canadian province of New Brunswick. The settlement is located on provincial Ro ...

(q.v.) is named for him. He is the namesake of Mauger Beach (later known as "Hangman's Beach") on

McNabs Island McNabs Island (formerly Cornwallis Island) is the largest island in Halifax Harbour located in Halifax Regional Municipality, Nova Scotia, Canada. It played a major role in defending Halifax Harbour and is now a provincial park. The island was set ...

.Charles Morris 1759 map - Mauger Beach marked
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References

1725 births 1788 deaths Jersey people Members of the Parliament of Great Britain for English constituencies British MPs 1768–1774 British MPs 1774–1780 History of Nova Scotia British slave traders {{NovaScotia-stub

Legacy

See also

References