Biography - Captain James Carroll

Captain James Carroll, steam ship captain and early Juneau property owner. Carroll was born in Ireland in 1840 and came to the U.S. with his parents when he was a year old. They settled in Illinois and he began his seafaring career on the Great Lakes. Later he voyaged to many parts of the world in both sail and steam. Joining the Pacific Mail Steamship Company, he got his first command, the steamer Montana, in 1870. Captain Carroll was in command of the enormous sidewheel steamer Great Republic when she was wrecked at the mouth of the Columbia River in 1879 but was held blameless. Shortly after that he began running to Alaska at various times commanded the California, Ancon. Idaho. Mexico, Queen, and other vessels for the Pacific Coast Steamship Company. Joe Juneau and Richard Harris staked two of the first mining claims in the Juneau area in Carroll's name, including one of the first claims ever staked on Douglas Island. For many years he held interests in mining property on both sides of Gastineau Channel. With M.W. Murray, Carrol owned the first wharf at Juneau, near the present City Float, and for many years the entire tract between Carroll Way and Bulger Way was known as the Carroll and Murray Wharf Site. About 1895 Carroll bought Murray's interest in the wharf and donated the stock to the City of Juneau. That same year he built a new wharf on the site now occupied by Alaska Coastal Airlines. Captain Carroll was elected to represent Alaska as an unofficial delegate to the 51st Congress. In Washington he made headlines by offering to buy the Territory for double the price paid Russia. He also succeeded in getting some minor Alaska bill enacted. About 1902 Captain Carroll retired from his long service at sea and for several years acted as Seattle agent for the Tyee Whaling Company, which was operating in Southeastern Alaska. He died at his home in Seattle May 19, 1912.

Carrol Way - a narrow alleyway between South Franklin Street and Gastineau Avenue opposite the City Float. Named for Captain James Carroll.