Greetings, I am William Panton, a merchant hailing from the bonnie land of Scotland. In 1783, I, along with a group of fellow Scottish traders, founded the illustrious trading firm of Panton, Leslie & Company in St. Augustine, British East Florida. Our endeavors focused on engaging in trade with the indigenous peoples of Florida and the Spanish borderlands, ultimately securing a trade monopoly with the Indian tribes of the southeastern United States by 1795. My journey began on the family farm at the Mains of Aberdour, shaping me for a life dedicated to commerce, which led me across the seas to Charleston, South Carolina in 1765. Under the tutelage of John Gordon, a prominent Scottish trader in South Carolina, I delved into the intricate world of Indian trade, paving the way for our company's success and influence in the region.