Nathaniel Wheelwright (1721-1765)

He was born at Boston, the son of the Commissary-General for the Province of Massachusetts. He continued his father's considerable business and, speaking fluent French, in the early 1750s he spent much time in Montreal and Quebec gaining valuable business connections. Despite having inherited a fortune from his father, he ran into difficulties after the British Conquest of Quebec and in 1765 James Otis wrote, "the failing of Mr Wheelwright... happened here last week and has given as great a shock to credit here as your South Sea Bubble did in England some years ago - the Government at home during the wars acquired such an undue credit that he became, next to the treasurer, banker general for the Province and almost for the continent". Wheelwright was found to be in debt £154,000 - a colossal sum in those days. He protected his personal property by signing everything he owned over to a brother before vanishing in 1765, believed to have fled to Dominica. However, the Governor of Dominica, George Scott, soon afterwards informed his creditors that he had died in May at Guadeloupe. In about 1755, he married Ann, daughter of Charles Apthorp, of Boston, and left three sons.