William Black (1771 – 18 June 1866) was a Canadian shipper, merchant, and office-holder born in

Aberdeen Aberdeen (; sco, Aiberdeen ; gd, Obar Dheathain ; la, Aberdonia) is a city in North East Scotland, and is the third most populous city in the country. Aberdeen is one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas (as Aberdeen City), and ...

Scotland Scotland (, ) is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Covering the northern third of the island of Great Britain, mainland Scotland has a border with England to the southeast and is otherwise surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean to the ...

. Black grew up and was educated in Scotland. He immigrated to

New Brunswick New Brunswick (french: Nouveau-Brunswick, , locally ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada. It is one of the three Maritime provinces and one of the four Atlantic provinces. It is the only province with both English and ...

in 1798 work with his brother

John John is a common English name and surname: * John (given name) * John (surname) John may also refer to: New Testament Works * Gospel of John, a title often shortened to John * First Epistle of John, often shortened to 1 John * Second ...

, an established shipping and timber export merchant. By 1808 he was managing their timber trade in Saint John while his brother opened a new office in Halifax, Nova Scotia. In a few years they had the largest business enterprises in British North America. They both married daughters of

Christopher Billopp Christopher Billopp (1738March 29, 1827) was a British loyalist during the American Revolution. His command of a Tory detachment during the war earned him the sobriquet, "Tory Colonel". After the American Revolution he emigrated to New Brunsw ...

, a leading an influential businessman and member of the

Legislative Council of New Brunswick The Legislative Council of New Brunswick was the upper house of the government of the British colony and later Canadian province of New Brunswick between 1785 and 1891. Members were appointed by the New Brunswick governor. Council chambers Th ...

. Black was appointed to the Council in 1817 by

George Stracey Smyth George Stracey Smyth (4 April 1767 – 27 March 1823) was Commander-in-Chief, North America, Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia and Lieutenant Governor of New Brunswick. Biography Born in England, he was appointed an ensign in the East Norf ...

, the Lieutenant Governor. He eventually achieved the position of president of the council. During his time as acting governor of the colony of New Brunswick in 1829 to 1831, they had named the small village of Blackville after him.

References

* 1771 births 1866 deaths Canadian businesspeople in shipping Canadian merchants Politicians from Aberdeen Members of the Legislative Council of New Brunswick Colony of New Brunswick people Scottish emigrants to pre-Confederation New Brunswick Canadian businesspeople in timber 19th-century Canadian businesspeople {{Canada-business-bio-stub