14 Facts About Richard Borden

Colonel Richard Borden was an American businessman and civic leader from Fall River, Massachusetts.

Richard Borden co-founded the Fall River Iron Works in 1821, and later built several early cotton mills, as well as the Fall River Line, Fall River Gas Works Company, the Fall River Railroad, banks and other businesses.

In 1714, Colonel Richard Borden's ancestor purchased land along the falls of the Quequechan River from Benjamin Church, along with a saw mill, a grist mill and a fulling mill.

Richard Borden began working in a grist mill at age fifteen.

Richard Borden became adept in the task of sailing and boating in the Narragansett Bay, as part of the grist mill business.

Richard Borden operated a saw mill adjacent to the grist mill during these years.

Richard Borden acquired the rank of "colonel" in the local militia in 1828.

In 1821, Richard Borden established the Fall River Iron Works, along with Major Bradford Durfee, and several others at the lower part of the Quequechan River.

Bradford Durfee was a shipwright, and Richard Borden was the owner of a grist mill.

In 1827, Richard Borden began regular steamship service to Providence, Rhode Island.

Richard Borden later constructed the Metacomet Mill in 1847, which today is the oldest remaining textile mill in the City, located on Anawan Street.

Richard Borden established the first railroad line to serve Fall River, The Fall River Branch Railroad, was incorporated in 1844 and opened in 1845 to Myricks Junction, with a connection to Boston via Mansfield via the Taunton Branch Railroad.

However, wanting a more direct route to Boston, Richard Borden opened a new line in 1846 connecting with the Old Colony Railroad at South Braintree via Middleborough and Bridgewater.

Richard Baxter Borden would serve as either president, director and treasurer of several mills, banks and insurance companies.