James Sprunt

Born in Glasgow on June 9, 1846, he came to Wilmington, North Carolina, as a child with his family in 1854. He later built a successful career in the cotton export business and became widely known in the state as a philanthropist and public-minded citizen.

Alongside his business work, he devoted himself to preserving the history of the Cape Fear region. He wrote books and historical studies on Wilmington and the Lower Cape Fear, helping record the people, places, and events that shaped coastal North Carolina.

He died on July 9, 1924. Remembered as both a businessman and a historian, he left behind a body of writing that is especially valuable for readers interested in the local history of Wilmington and the Cape Fear area.