Howland & Aspinwall was a merchant firm based in New York City in the 1830s and 1840s.

He was a successful businessman and became the head of a merchant firm, W. Nicholson and Company.

At this time the company was one of the several merchant firms based in Montreal that made up the loose partnership known as the North West Company.

Whilst developing James Finlay & Co. into the leading merchant firm of it's time he also led a very active public life.

The merchant firms had developed deep and lasting relationships with other firms in the Empire and cash was readily available for capital improvement.

Later on, he headed the merchant firm of Messrs Ferguson, Webb and Co.

It was the first of the British merchant firms to venture into Japan, opening a branch in Yokohama in the early 1860s.

He soon travels to Egypt, due to his knowledge of Arabic, and obtains employment with a merchant firm.

Their partnership was a merchant firm with interests in shipping, real estate, and other lines of business.

Before 1860 overseas merchant firms and the owners of landed estates had accumulated wealth that became available for industrial investments.