Saint James (Saint-Pierre)

First rum distilled at Habitation Trou-Vaillant is exported to North America under the name, Saint James.

French revolution sees the possessions of Pères de la Charité become national goods.

The colonial assembly of Martinique lease the Saint James distillery back to Pères de la Charité who continue to run it until 1802.

The Saint James plantations are declared property of the French state by Napoleon Bonaparte.

Martinique is occupied by the British until 1814.

The operation of Saint James is carried out by English colonists who ship its rum to the UK.

Back in French hands, the Saint James plantations are leased to Edouard Henry, a former superior of Pères de la Charité.

The Saint-James estate is privatised after the Martinique General Council sell it to Paul de Grottes and his three sons.

François-Paulin Lambert registers the square bottle design now synonymous with the Saint James brand.

He also he trademarks “Rhum des plantations de Saint-James” at the Registry of the Marseille Court of Commerce.

Paulin Lambert becomes the owner of the Saint-James estate in order to control supply for his rum business.

Mount Pelée erupts and devastates the town of Saint-Pierre.

Trou-Vaillant is geographically protected by a ravine and miraculously survives.

Paulin Lambert dies and the business is passed to his sons.

The Lambert family sell the distillery to Société d’Investissement des Caraïbes.

The distillery is acquired by the French distributor, Picon.

Picon is acquired by Cointreau & Cie who close down the Saint-Pierre distillery and open a new facility in Sainte-Marie the following year.