John Strettell
Encyclopedia
John Strettell of London, England, was one of the most important merchants providing trade goods to the Canadian fur trade in the period between the Conquest of Canada and his death in 1786.
Born in 1721, he was the second son of Robert Strettell
, a London merchant and Quaker. Robert Strettell took most of his family to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where he was successful in business and became Mayor of Philadelphia. John remained in England, and was trained in business by his mother's brother, the merchant John Owen. The business was that of a commission merchant, who supplied English manufactured goods to American merchants on credit, and sold the goods that the customers sent to pay their debts. John Strettell became his uncle's partner, and later carried on the business alone. By 1758 he was shipping trade goods to the Indian Commissioners of the colony of Pennsylvania, and he continued to trade to Pennsylvania at least till the outbreak of the Revolutionary War.
It was in Canada, however, that Strettell made his great success. Near the end of his career, he referred to "my Canada Friends, to whose favours I principally owe my present happy circumstances". Once Canada had passed into British hands, Strettell lost no time taking advantage of the new market now available, a market largely dependent on the fur trade. In the spring of 1761, the first season when the fur trade could be re-established west of Montreal, he was already seeking permission from the Privy Council to send gunpowder to Canada for the Indian trade. During the period of military government of Canada, when severe restrictions were placed on the fur trade, Strettell was one of the London merchants who signed petitions to the Colonial Office, seeking relaxation of the regulations. He represented the "Canada merchants" who petitioned for the abolition of the Stamp Act and other offensive duties in 1765, and he led the effort to remove James Murray
from the governorship of Quebec. Strettell's interest in various branches of the trade to America is further shown by his activity in collecting money for the relief of sufferers from the Montreal fire in 1765, and from the fire in Bridgetown, Barbados, in 1766; and for the establishment of what later became Brown University
, in 1768.
When the Northwest fur trade, into the present western Canada, was re-established in the late 1760s and after, John Strettell provided the goods for some of the most important traders. Among his Canadian customers were the partnership of Isaac Todd
and James McGill
, and that of Benjamin Frobisher
and Joseph Frobisher
. These two partnerships, forming the earliest version of the North West Company
, were the most energetic in the Northwest fur trade in the years just before the American Revolution. Strettell also provided goods to other Canadian merchants, notably John Paterson
and Charles Grant
of Quebec, William Grant
of St. Roch, and Richard Dobie
of Montreal. These men were the richest of the pre-Revolution merchants in Canada. When the London merchants petitioned Parliament in late 1774, expressing their concerns about political developments in America, Strettell, along with Brook Watson
and Robert Hunter, signed on behalf of the merchants with interests in Canada. He continued to have business interests in Pennsylvania, and in the West Indies.
Like other London Quakers, Strettell took a keen interest in charitable works, such as a project to purchase fish and potatoes for the London poor during the severe winter of 1767, and another, in 1777, for the relief of American prisoners of war, held in prisons in England under circumstances of great privation.
Strettell continued his Canada business through the Revolutionary War. He supported about half the shares in the North West Company when it was reorganized in 1784, and the reorganization probably could not have taken place without his approval. Soon after, his health began to fail, and he arranged for his Canada and other business to be transferred to a new partnership between his long-time chief clerk, John Brickwood, and a returned East India employee, Thomas Pattle. With various reorganizations, the Brickwood firm remained important well into the next century.
Strettell died on 20 July 1786. He had not married until he was in his mid-fifties, in 1776. In that year, at a Quaker ceremony, he married Mary Hayling, said to have been his housekeeper. They had two sons, one of whom died in childhood, while the other, Amos, inherited his father's fortune.
Born in 1721, he was the second son of Robert Strettell
Robert Strettell
Robert Strettell was a city councilman and mayor of Philadelphia.He was born in Dublin, Ireland, in 1693, the son of Amos Strettell. In 1736 he came with his family to Philadelphia, where he worked as a merchant. He was a member of the Common Council of the City of Philadelphia, a member of the...
, a London merchant and Quaker. Robert Strettell took most of his family to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where he was successful in business and became Mayor of Philadelphia. John remained in England, and was trained in business by his mother's brother, the merchant John Owen. The business was that of a commission merchant, who supplied English manufactured goods to American merchants on credit, and sold the goods that the customers sent to pay their debts. John Strettell became his uncle's partner, and later carried on the business alone. By 1758 he was shipping trade goods to the Indian Commissioners of the colony of Pennsylvania, and he continued to trade to Pennsylvania at least till the outbreak of the Revolutionary War.
It was in Canada, however, that Strettell made his great success. Near the end of his career, he referred to "my Canada Friends, to whose favours I principally owe my present happy circumstances". Once Canada had passed into British hands, Strettell lost no time taking advantage of the new market now available, a market largely dependent on the fur trade. In the spring of 1761, the first season when the fur trade could be re-established west of Montreal, he was already seeking permission from the Privy Council to send gunpowder to Canada for the Indian trade. During the period of military government of Canada, when severe restrictions were placed on the fur trade, Strettell was one of the London merchants who signed petitions to the Colonial Office, seeking relaxation of the regulations. He represented the "Canada merchants" who petitioned for the abolition of the Stamp Act and other offensive duties in 1765, and he led the effort to remove James Murray
James Murray
-Politicians:* Lord James Murray , MP for Perthshire* James Murray, 2nd Duke of Atholl , Whig MP and lord of the Isle of Man from 1736–1764* Hon. James Murray -Politicians:* Lord James Murray (1663–1719), MP for Perthshire* James Murray, 2nd Duke of Atholl (1690–1764), Whig MP and lord of the Isle...
from the governorship of Quebec. Strettell's interest in various branches of the trade to America is further shown by his activity in collecting money for the relief of sufferers from the Montreal fire in 1765, and from the fire in Bridgetown, Barbados, in 1766; and for the establishment of what later became Brown University
Brown University
Brown University is a private, Ivy League university located in Providence, Rhode Island, United States. Founded in 1764 prior to American independence from the British Empire as the College in the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations early in the reign of King George III ,...
, in 1768.
When the Northwest fur trade, into the present western Canada, was re-established in the late 1760s and after, John Strettell provided the goods for some of the most important traders. Among his Canadian customers were the partnership of Isaac Todd
Isaac Todd
Isaac Todd was a merchant of Montreal was involved in the re-establishment of the fur trade after the Conquest of Canada....
and James McGill
James McGill
James McGill was a Scottish-Canadian businessman, military commander and philanthropist known for being the founder of McGill University...
, and that of Benjamin Frobisher
Benjamin Frobisher
Benjamin Frobisher was born in England, the son of Joseph Frobisher and Rachel Hargrave and immigrated to Canada about 1763...
and Joseph Frobisher
Joseph Frobisher
Joseph Frobisher was a fur trader and political figure in Lower Canada.He was born in Halifax, England in 1740 and came to Quebec with his brother Benjamin around 1763; their brother Thomas joined them around 1769...
. These two partnerships, forming the earliest version of the North West Company
North West Company
The North West Company was a fur trading business headquartered in Montreal from 1779 to 1821. It competed with increasing success against the Hudson's Bay Company in what was to become Western Canada...
, were the most energetic in the Northwest fur trade in the years just before the American Revolution. Strettell also provided goods to other Canadian merchants, notably John Paterson
John Paterson
John Paterson sometimes Patterson was born in New Britain, Connecticut and graduated from Yale in 1762. After graduation John practiced law, and was a justice of the peace at New Britain until 1774 when he moved to Lenox, Massachusetts. He married Elizabeth Lee and had at least one son and one...
and Charles Grant
Charles Grant
Charles Grant may refer to:*Charles Grant , American football player*Charles Grant , Australian Senator*Charles Grant , British politician...
of Quebec, William Grant
William Grant
Sir William Grant was a British lawyer, Member of Parliament from 1790–1812 and Master of the Rolls from 1801–1817.He was born at Elchies, Moray, Scotland...
of St. Roch, and Richard Dobie
Richard Dobie
Richard Dobie was a merchant from Scotland who came to Canada about 1760 and by 1764 was actively involved in the fur trade around Lake Superior and the other Great Lakes...
of Montreal. These men were the richest of the pre-Revolution merchants in Canada. When the London merchants petitioned Parliament in late 1774, expressing their concerns about political developments in America, Strettell, along with Brook Watson
Brook Watson
Sir Brook Watson, 1st Baronet was a British merchant, soldier, and later Lord Mayor of London, perhaps most famous as the subject of Watson and the Shark , a painting by John Singleton Copley which depicted a shark attack on Watson as a boy, as a result of which he lost his right leg below the...
and Robert Hunter, signed on behalf of the merchants with interests in Canada. He continued to have business interests in Pennsylvania, and in the West Indies.
Like other London Quakers, Strettell took a keen interest in charitable works, such as a project to purchase fish and potatoes for the London poor during the severe winter of 1767, and another, in 1777, for the relief of American prisoners of war, held in prisons in England under circumstances of great privation.
Strettell continued his Canada business through the Revolutionary War. He supported about half the shares in the North West Company when it was reorganized in 1784, and the reorganization probably could not have taken place without his approval. Soon after, his health began to fail, and he arranged for his Canada and other business to be transferred to a new partnership between his long-time chief clerk, John Brickwood, and a returned East India employee, Thomas Pattle. With various reorganizations, the Brickwood firm remained important well into the next century.
Strettell died on 20 July 1786. He had not married until he was in his mid-fifties, in 1776. In that year, at a Quaker ceremony, he married Mary Hayling, said to have been his housekeeper. They had two sons, one of whom died in childhood, while the other, Amos, inherited his father's fortune.