Editing Miramichi, New Brunswick (section)

===Industry and politics (1765–1850)===
[[File:Rankin House.jpg|thumb|Rankin House, former home of Miramichi [[lumber baron]] [[Alexander Rankin]] at Douglastown]]

Although subsistence farming constituted one part of the new settlement's economy, the thin, acid soils of the Miramichi were not conducive to agriculture; thus, the lumber industry and [[Atlantic salmon]] fishery were the mainstays. A [[shipbuilding]] industry was established by Davidson in 1773, largely to facilitate overseas lumber exports, including masts for the British navy, and to provide winter employment for the men. Davidson's first ship, "Miramichi", was lost with her cargo off the Spanish coast.

Miramichi benefited greatly from the [[Napoleonic wars]] and [[American independence]], as Britain became dependent on its remaining North American colonies, including New Brunswick, for lumber. However, the [[1825 Miramichi fire]], the advent of steel-hulled ships, and perhaps over-cutting of [[eastern white pine]], would eventually contribute to a long-term decline in the area's economy. The Miramichi Fire burnt almost 1/4 of New Brunswick's forest, and consumed most of the buildings along the northern side of the river. Only 12 buildings remained in Newcastle.

The towns of Newcastle and Chatham developed a long history of rivalry, including a small "war" fought between the communities ("the fighting election of 1843"). The 1843 election was fought on a political level between John T. Williston of Chatham (supported by local entrepreneur [[Joseph Cunard]] of Chatham, brother of [[Samuel Cunard]]) and [[John Ambrose Street]] of Newcastle (backed by the prominent lumber baron, [[Alexander Rankin]] of Douglastown). The Rankin and Cunard factions literally fought the election in the streets of [[Newcastle, New Brunswick|Newcastle]] and [[Chatham, New Brunswick|Chatham]] with sticks, stones, coal and other missiles.