Captain Paul Bridson – his title referring to his Captaincy of Douglas – was the deputy searcher or customs officer for Douglas, a merchant and an agent for others in the mid-18th-century Guinea goods and smuggling trades. He was a major importer of Guinea goods, which were goods that were re-exported to buy slaves on the African coast, including those imported by the leading Dutch importing master Jan Wolfers. Bridson also had strong links with Liverpool merchants. His name appears on the Isle of Man’s customs entries for Derbyhaven, importing goods such as wool from Ireland. Around 1745 he operated his business from Douglas and over two decades imported Guinea goods valued over £80,000 making him a leading merchant on the Isle of Man.