John Roberts (1777-1835)

John Roberts (1777-1835) was an English businessman who most notably founded the Elemental Sailing Packet Company in 1804 aged 27. In 1817 his company owned one of the first steamships and changed from an England-Australia trade company to an English Channel ferry service. In 1835, he suffered a stroke and died on 8th August 1835, with a wife and 23-year-old daughter, Mary Roberts. His company was rebooted by William James the year following his death.