James Mink

Who is James Mink?

James Mink was a black man who became a respected millionaire businessman in Toronto, Canada in the 1840s when slavery was rampant in the United States.

Mink's story was told in the loosely autobiographical made for TV movie Captive Heart: The James Mink Story, starring Lou Gossett, Jr. as James Mink and Kate Nelligan as his wife. Afro-American actress, Ruby Dee, played a significant part as did Michael J. White., however several discrepancies exist.

In reality, Mink was the eldest of 11 children of United Empire Loyalist Johan Herkimer's slave, named Mink. James Mink became a millionaire, along with his brother, George. Both started hotels, liveries and coach services, first in Kingston Ontario. Then James moved to Toronto in the 1840s, while his brother remained in Kingston Ontario. They would transport travellers between Toronto and Kingston, which was then the capital city of Upper Canada; a colony of Great Britain. The brothers would transport their passengers to the other's city by meeting at the halfway point in Brighton Ontario; exchange passengers and get fresh horses, and then return home with the passengers.