The author’s intention is to provide an historical account of a little-known part of American history in the Port of Liverpool by illustrating the life of James Maury, an American tobacco merchant from Virginia who became the first American Consul to the Port of Liverpool.

Maury, who had arrived in Liverpool in 1786 to establish his tobacco house, went on to become American Consul to the port from 1790 to 1829. As Consul, Maury was issued with two prime directives. He was to protect all American citizens and their interests within his consular jurisdiction and to promote the necessary trade between the two nations. This Maury did in exemplary fashion. Maury’s day-to-day duties consisted of dealing with impressments, desertions, assisting sick and distressed mariners, and in the issuing of passports.

Maury as Consul was the prime architect in establishing the American Chamber of Commerce in Liverpool in 1801, in order to collectively fight and protect all merchant members in the American trade from unfair excessive dock and customs charges. And for his efforts Maury was elected the Chamber’s first chairman and president. The Chamber then became the catalyst for organised mercantile, commercial and trade networking between the Liverpool and American merchants during the nineteenth century.

In 1821, due to the volume of sick and distressed American mariners arriving at the port, Maury established and administrated an American Hospital with great success. As an entrepreneur, Maury had established a successful Virginian tobacco house, and from the proceeds he became a very wealthy man and the owner of five ocean going vessels. Maury was also a family man, who met and married an educated English woman, a Margaret Rutson, and together they raised five children on an English education.

The story is compiled from the many consular and personal letters of James Maury, and also from the letters of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, James Monroe, and John Quincy Adams, all of whom had written to Maury whilst he was Consul at Liverpool. The personal letters of Maury’s daughter Ann are also included.

James Maury, an American patriot who became an English gentleman, was a religious and benevolent man, who did so much for all American citizens and mariners who passed through his Consular District. From my many years of research, I firmly believe Maury played a significant, and indeed pivotal, role in the advancement of the port of Liverpool in the American trade and also made a considerable contribution to the improvement of Anglo-American trade relations from the period 1790 to 1829.

Having retired from the Civil Service, I needed a new challenge, so I applied and was accepted to undertake a degree at Edge Hill University. It was a wonderful time in my life where I gained a BA and MA in history. It was whilst at university that I stumbled upon James Maury, an American tobacco merchant residing in Liverpool in 1790, and the more I researched him, the more interesting he became. Hence: the book.

Today, I spend my time as a volunteer on a three-mastered schooner, ‘Kathleen and May’, moored at Liverpool. I still research and write and have several projects on the go.

Customer Reviews

5.0

2 reviews

Phil McNulty

Derek Lunt focusses on a specific individual, Maury, in such exacting detail as to provide a lense through which to view mercantile and general economic development, in Britain, America and Europe, during the period of study. My interests here are in the development of the Port of Liverpool, social history and anything maritime. Maury was clearly a man of immense capabilities, energy, determination and goodwill. Through his extensive correspondence, detailed reports and record keeping we learn of the significant breadth of his responsibilities as Consul across the whole of the North of England. The fine detail of ships, sailings, cargoes, sailing-vessel construction and sailors lives are a vitally important historical record. This book entwines the development of America, after independence, the spectacular development of Liverpool as a mercantile hub and of the North of England as an early industrial manufacturing powerhouse. We understand the lives and problems of all involved- the great merchants, sea captains, impressed American sailors and those seafarers abandoned, ill and destitute on the Mersey quaysides. All of this was Maury’s concern. Derek Lunt has provided us with an exceptional record of the life of an exceptional man. A huge achievement.
Margaret Murray

The book James Maury Esq is very informative and knowledgeable. Māori played a major part in contributing to commerce and a huge growth in the port of Liverpool. Derek has truly delved into the life of Maury and uncovered many previous unknown facts. A well written and very interesting book.