James Sprunt

author

James Sprunt

1846–1924

A Scottish-born Wilmington merchant turned local historian, he wrote vivid books that helped preserve the stories of the lower Cape Fear. His life also left a mark through philanthropy, civic work, and a long career in international trade.

1 Audiobook

Derelicts: An Account of Ships Lost at Sea in General Commercial Traffic And a Brief History of Blockade Runners Stranded Along the North Carolina Coast, 1861-1865

Derelicts: An Account of Ships Lost at Sea in General Commercial Traffic And a Brief History of Blockade Runners Stranded Along the North Carolina Coast, 1861-1865

by James Sprunt

About the author

Born in Glasgow on June 9, 1846, he came to North Carolina as a child and grew up in Wilmington. During the Civil War he served the Confederacy as a courier and later built a major exporting business, becoming an important figure in Wilmington commercial life.

Alongside his business career, he became one of the best-known chroniclers of the Cape Fear region. His books on Wilmington, blockade running, and regional history helped preserve local stories that might otherwise have been lost, including Chronicles of the Cape Fear River and Tales and Traditions of the Lower Cape Fear.

He was also known for philanthropy and public service, including work as a consul and support for education and community institutions. He died on July 9, 1924, but his name remained closely tied to Wilmington and to the history of coastal North Carolina.