Enos Collins may have built up his fortune on the sea but it was on land and around Halifax on which he built his legacy.

Born in Liverpool in 1774, Collins went to sea as a cabin boy at the age of 14, making his first privateering trips with his father’s vessels. He worked closely with his father both at sea and on land, eventually taking over his successful businesses. His navigation skills weren’t the only thing he inherited from his father. With a keen business intellect, Collins saw many moneymaking opportunities from privateering.

His first profitable venture at sea was in 1808 where he commanded a brig and sailed to Antigua. There, he loaded valuable cargo and sailed to Haiti where he sold it in exchange for coffee. This transaction left him with a sizeable profit. Following his instincts, he went on another business mission to bypass the Spanish warships stationed to prevent supplies from reaching British troops in Cadiz during the Peninsula war. He stocked up three vessels with provisions, which successfully snuck through the barricade. Not surprisingly, the exchange of supplies gained him another fortune.

In 1812, he partnered with the Hon. Joseph Allison and started “Collins and Allison” in Halifax, a business where they bought and sold condemned goods captured during the war. With these profits, Collins was able to purchase the Liverpool Packet, which sailed from Boston Harbour and brought returns well in excess of $250,000.

To support his ongoing and growing trade operation, he built a large ironstone warehouse in Halifax, named “Privateers Warehouse”, where he stored the ships and cargoes that he purchased. This building still stands today in the heart of downtown, and is known as Historic Properties.

Following the war of 1812, Collins was appointed to the Executive and Legislative council of Twelve by the then-Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia, Sir James Kempt. He held this position until 1848.

In 1825, Collins had made enough money to form the Halifax Banking Company, nicknamed “Collins’ Bank” with six others, of which he was principle. This would be Nova Scotia’s first bank. The Halifax Banking Company would merge with the Canadian Bank of Commerce in later years, and eventually the Imperial Bank of Commerce, to form what we know today as the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce.

Collins’ energy wasn’t only focused on his personal gain. His charitable and volunteer efforts were concentrated on the economic growth of local communities. He lent his leadership and business skills as a member of the Poor Man’s Friend Society; was treasurer of the Regatta Committee at Halifax, 1826; and was Vice President of the Halifax Chamber of Commerce. In addition to donating two bells at two churches in Liverpool, he also made frequent and large donations to many local charities.

Passing away in 1872, Collins lived to be 97 and was survived at the time by his son, Brenton, and three daughters, Eliza, Frances and Margaretta. When he died, he held the reputation of being “the wealthiest man in the British North America”.