James Domville (1842 -1921)

James Domville was born in Belize, British Honduras to James William and Frances Usher Domville and he attended schools in England, Germany and France. In 1858, he joined the trade goods firm Michael Cavan and Company in Barbados, and in 1966 he settled in Saint John, New Brunswick. He formed the partnership Domville, Scovil and Company and eventually became sole owner of what became Coldbrook Rolling Mills Company that did very well in the 1870s.¹⁾

In 1897, Domville, with a consortium from England, commissioned a firm in Vancouver to build two sternwheelers, Lightning and James Domville. In October 1898, the Domville became the first vessel flying a British flag to reach Dawson. When Domville visited Dawson, he was asked about a just imposed gold royalty and replied that he had twenty guns on the James Domville and would carry on despite the royalty. He left before the steamer arrived in Dawson. His reputation suffered from reports of drinking and “irregular” behavior while in the Yukon.²⁾