John Bryant (1780-1865)
of Beacon Street, Boston; Shipping Merchant of Bryant & Sturgis
He went into business in 1810 with William Sturgis. They were investment managers to John Perkins Cushing when Cushing was in the railroad business in New York and Pennsylvania. From 1810 to 1850 more than half of the trade carried on between the Pacific Northwest coast and China was operated by Bryant & Sturgis, and also substantial parts of the California hide trade. He was reputed to be worth $1.5-million in 1851 making him one the richest men in Massachusetts. In 1807, he married Mary, daughter of Rev. John Smith, Professor at Dartmouth College, New Hampshire. They had nine children, six of whom (listed) survived to adulthood.
