Brian Blackburn

Brian Blackburn was a Mordentish alchemist and retired adventurer. Wishing to secure a steady flow of alchemical supplies, he partnered with Ian Bruce and founded Blackburn's Crossing as a trading hub in Mordent long before it became a Ravenloft domain. Their descendants carried on their work, eventually joining their bloodlines together by marriage and forming the Blackburn-Bruce Family.
Given how long ago he lived, Brian Blackburn is likely deceased, barring some special means of extending his life.