James William Carmichael, son of New Glasgow’s founder, James Carmichael, became its most prominent merchant, shipbuilder and ship-owner.
James built ships and transported goods by ship. Although Carmichael originally built wooden sailing ships, he later built steamers and pioneered the use and building of iron and steel ships in Nova Scotia. He constructed his largest vessel, the 1,174-ton Thiorva, in 1876.