Porteous, John, -1799

Name Entries

Information

person

Name Entries *

Porteous, John, -1799

Computed Name Heading

Name Components

Name :

Porteous, John, -1799

Porteous, John, d. 1799

Computed Name Heading

Name Components

Name :

Porteous, John, d. 1799

Genders

Exist Dates

Exist Dates - Date Range

1799

1799

Death

Show Fuzzy Range Fields

Biographical History

A native of Perth, Scotland, John Porteous came to Detroit in 1762 and engaged in the fur trade between Mackinac and Albany. As a loyalist, he carried on business in St. John's, New Brunswick, and Digby, Nova Scotia. In c.1789, Porteous settled in Little Falls, New York and became an American Citizen. Here he carried on an extensive business with merchants of New York City, Philadelphia, Schenectady, New York, etc. He died in 1799.

From the description of John Porteous papers, 1761-1873. (Detroit Public Library). WorldCat record id: 294847571

John Porteous, a Scotsman by birth, arrived in America from Perth, Scotland, in 1762. In 1764, he was hired as a clerk by John Duncan, a Schenectady fur trader. The next year, he began working for James Sterling in Detroit and at Fort Michilimackinac in present-day Mackinaw City. His duties included selling goods, buying furs, and extending credit, and collecting debts. In this role, Porteous also made occasional travels to Canada and New York. He was also associated with the merchants James Phyn and Alexander Ellice, and before the start of the Revolution, established himself as an important trader in Montreal.

During the American Revolution, Porteous worked as a merchant in New York City, and helped to supply the local garrison with British goods. He was also part-owner of the British privateer Vengeance . At the time of the British evacuation, he returned briefly to Scotland, before settling in Nova Scotia, and subsequently, Little Falls, New York. There, he continued to work as a merchant and also operated a flour mill. He died in March 1799.

From the guide to the John Porteous letter book, Porteous, John letter book, 1767-1769, (William L. Clements Library, University of Michigan)

eng

Latn

External Related CPF

https://viaf.org/viaf/16578878

https://www.worldcat.org/identities/lccn-n2001120224

https://id.loc.gov/authorities/n2001120224

Other Entity IDs (Same As)

Sources

Loading ...

Resource Relations

Loading ...

Internal CPF Relations

Loading ...

Languages Used

Subjects

Fur trade

Fur trade

Fur trade

Fur trade

Fur traders

Indians of North America

Indians of North America

Pontiac's Conspiracy, 1763-1765

Trading companies

Nationalities

Activities

Occupations

Merchants

Legal Statuses

Places

Montréal (Québec)

as recorded (not vetted)

AssociatedPlace

Great Lakes Region (North America)

as recorded (not vetted)

AssociatedPlace

Fort Michilimackinac (Mackinaw City, Mich.)

as recorded (not vetted)

AssociatedPlace

Great Lakes Region (North America)

as recorded (not vetted)

AssociatedPlace

Detroit (Mich.)

as recorded (not vetted)

AssociatedPlace

New York (State)

as recorded (not vetted)

AssociatedPlace

Niagara (N.Y. : Town)

as recorded (not vetted)

AssociatedPlace

Michigan

as recorded (not vetted)

AssociatedPlace

Canada

as recorded (not vetted)

AssociatedPlace

Niagara (N.Y. : Town)

as recorded (not vetted)

AssociatedPlace

Montréal (Québec)

as recorded (not vetted)

AssociatedPlace

Detroit (Mich.)

as recorded (not vetted)

AssociatedPlace

Fort Michilimackinac (Mackinaw City, Mich.)

as recorded (not vetted)

AssociatedPlace

Convention Declarations

<conventionDeclaration><citation>VIAF</citation></conventionDeclaration>

General Contexts

Structure or Genealogies

Mandates

Identity Constellation Identifier(s)

w69032pj

815717