Unidad documental simple 4 - C. A. Piesse: miscellaneous papers

Alexander McGregor (1821-1896), shipowner and merchant, and John Gibson McGregor (1830-1902) arrived in Tasmania from Scotland with their parents, James and Janet McGregor. The brothers served apprenticeships under a shipwright, John Watson, and then started building boats. Alexander acquired the Domain Shipyard in 1855 with his brother John as foreman, but sold out to his brother in 1869.
Alexander McGregor started the firm of McGregor, Piesse & Co., general merchants of Elizabeth Street, Hobart, with Charles A. Piesse. They bought ships for exporting whale oil, blue gum, timber and wool, known as the "Red Iron" fleet, and they had a warehouse in Salamanca Place. The partnership was dissolved in 1886, possibly because the firm was getting into debt through McGregor's speculating in land and mine ventures. In his last years Alexander McGregor speculated unwisely in various property and mine share deals and was involved in a number of legal actions. Alexander McGregor was a member of the Legislative Council 1880 - 1896.
In 1847 McGregor married Harriet Bayley (1829-1878), who gave her name to two of his ships, the "Hally Bayley" and the "Harriet McGregor", Harriet McGregor died in 1878 and Alexander married Margaret Pigdon about 1884. He had a house, Lenna, in Battery Point and other property. After his death his second wife Margaret (nee Pigdon) married agent Thomas Bennison.
For more information see http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/mcgregor-alexander-4095

C. Piesse & Co, Merchants and Shipping Agents, corner of Elizabeth and Davey Streets, Hobart. The company was started in the late nineteenth century by Charles Augustus James Piesse (1850-1909), who had formerly worked with A.G. Webster and Alex McGregor & Co. He carried on the business of a shipping, forwarding and general agent including wool, skins, hops, fruit etc. His son, Leslie Fraser Piesse (1882-) succeeded him as Managing Director. The firm exported to British and Continental markets, specializing in ‘colonial’ produce, silver, lead ore, hops, grain, fur, wool, sheep &? rabbit skins (Cyclopedia of Tasmania p. 333). Charles Augustus James Piesse was born in Hobart in 1850, son of Frederick Henry Piesse and Jean Price Johnson. At his death in 1909 his son Leslie Fraser Piesse, (1882-1964) succeeded to the business.