Browsing named entities in Harper's Encyclopedia of United States History (ed. Benson Lossing). You can also browse the collection for William Shirley or search for William Shirley in all documents.

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Harper's Encyclopedia of United States History (ed. Benson Lossing), Acadia, or Acadie, (search)
ere sent to Louisburg, and the Acadians who had been forced into the French service were granted an amnesty. They readily took an oath of allegiance. expected forbearance, and went on quietly cultivating their land. But the exasperation of the people of New England, because of the horrible forays of the French and Indians on their frontiers, had to be appeased, and vengeance was inflicted upon these innocent people. It was resolved to banish the French Neutrals from their country. Governor Shirley had proposed it years before, in order to supply their place with Protestants; and the British government had promoted emigration thither, that a strong admixture of Protestants might neutralize the efforts of the priests to make the Acadians disloyal. Now Shirley's scheme was adopted, and General Winslow, who commanded the invaders, was made the executor of it. It was believed by the English that if the Acadians were permitted to go to Canada or Cape Breton, they would thus strengt
Harper's Encyclopedia of United States History (ed. Benson Lossing), Adams, Samuel, 1722-1803 (search)
in 1792. The tendency of his mind was shown when, at the age of twenty-one. receiving the degree of A. M., he proposed, and took the affirmative on, the question Whether it be lawful to resist the supreme magistrate if the commonwealth cannot otherwise be preserved? He published a pamphlet at about the same time entitled Englishmen's rights. He became an unsuccessful merchant, but a successful writer: and gained great popularity by his political essays against the administration of Governor Shirley. Stern in morals. a born republican, and with courage equal to his convictions, Samuel Adams was a natural leader of the opposers of the Stamp Act and kindred measures of Parliament, and from that period (1765) until the independence of the colonies was achieved he was a foremost leader of the patriot host. He suggested Samuel Adams. the Stamp Act Congress, and was a continual object of dread and hatred to the colonial governors. He proposed the first Committee of Correspondence
Harper's Encyclopedia of United States History (ed. Benson Lossing), Albany, (search)
colonial governors was called at Albany for a two-fold purpose: (1) to secure a colonial revenue, and (2) to strengthen the bond of friendship between the Six Nations and their neighbors in the West, and the English. Only Governors Clinton and Shirley, two able commissioners from Massachusetts, and one (William Bull) from South Carolina. were present. With the latter came the grand sachem and some chiefs of the Catawbas, a nation which had long waged war with the Iroquois. There was an immemained in Canada, the more southern colonies, which were not immediately exposed to hostilities, might be obliged to contribute in a just proportion towards the expense of protecting the inland portions of New York and New England. Clinton and Shirley signed and approved of the memorial, which was sent with it to the Board of Trade and Plantations. Third colonial convention. The kindly attitude manifested towards the French by the Six Nations excited the jealousy and alarm of the Englis
Harper's Encyclopedia of United States History (ed. Benson Lossing), Alexander, William, 1726-1783 (search)
Alexander, William, 1726-1783 Called Lord Stirling, military officer: born in New York City in 1726; was a son of Secretary Alexander of New Jersey. His mother was the widow of David Provoost, a wealthy merchant of the city of New York. Attached to the commissariat of the army, he attracted the notice of General Lord Stirling. Shirley. and was for three years his aide-de-camp and private secretary. He went to England and Scotland in 1755, and before his return he prosecuted his claim to the earldom of Stirling, but was unsuccessful. He spent much of his fortune in the matter. It was generally believed that he was the rightful heir to the title and estates, and he assumed the title of Lord Stirling, by which he was ever afterwards known in America. When the quarrel with Great Britain began in the colonies Lord Stirling espoused the cause of the patriots. In 1775 he was appointed a colonel, and in March, 1776, was commissioned a brigadier-general in the Continental army.
Harper's Encyclopedia of United States History (ed. Benson Lossing), Annapolis, (search)
ate non-importation agreements, but the people were inexorable. They had gathered in large numbers from the surrounding country. Charles Carroll and others, fearing mob violence, advised Stewart to burn the vessel and cargo with his own hands, which he did. The vessel was run ashore and destroyed, when the people cheered and dispersed. This was the last attempt at importation of tea into the English-American colonies. On April 14, 1755, General Braddock and Commodore Keppel, with Governors Shirley, of Massachusetts; De Lancey, of New York; Morris, of Pennsylvania; Sharpe. of Maryland, and Dinwiddie. of Virginia. held a congress at Annapolis. Braddock had lately arrived as commander-in-chief of the British forces in America. Under his instructions, he first of all directed the attention of the government to the necessity of raising a revenue in America. He expressed astonishment that no such fund was already established. The governors told him of their strifes with their r
Harper's Encyclopedia of United States History (ed. Benson Lossing), Bollan, William, 1740-1776 (search)
Bollan, William, 1740-1776 Lawyer; born in England; came to America about 1740, and settled in Boston. He married a daughter of Governor Shirley, of Massachusetts, and was appointed collector of customs at Salem and Marblehead. In 1745 he was sent to England to solicit the reimbursement of more than $800,000 advanced by Massachusetts for the expedition against Cape Breton. He was successful ; and became agent for Massachusetts in 1762, but was dismissed. Being in England in 1769, he obtained copies of thirty-three letters written by Governor Bernard and General Gage, calumniating the colonists, and sent then to Boston. For this act he was denounced in Parliament. He strongly recommended the British government to pursue conciliatory measures towards the colonists in 1775: and in various ways, in person and in writing, he showed his warm friendship for the Americans. Mr. Bollan wrote several political pamphlets relating to American affairs: and in 1774 he presented. as colo
Harper's Encyclopedia of United States History (ed. Benson Lossing), Bradstreet, John, 1711-1774 (search)
Bradstreet, John, 1711-1774 Military officer; born in Harbling, England. in 1711; was lieutenant-colonel of Pepperell's regiment in the expedition against Louisburg in 1745; and in September, the same year, he was made a captain of a regular regiment. The following year he was appointed lieutenant-governor of St. Johns, New-foundland — a sinecure place. Braddock ordered him to accompany Shirley to Oswego, in 1755. as his adjutant; and in 1756 he was charged with conveying supplies to Oswego. In 1757 he was appointed captain of a company in the regiment of Royal Americans; and late in the same year he was promoted to lieutenant-colonel of the same regiment, and deputy quartermaster-general, with the rank of colonel. He was quartermaster-general of Abercrombie's forces, with the rank of colonel, in the expedition against Ticonderoga in July, 1758; and in August he led an expedition which captured Fort Frontenac. Bradstreet was with Amherst in his expedition against Ticondero
Harper's Encyclopedia of United States History (ed. Benson Lossing), Canada (search)
and ecclesiastical authorities. Until the treaty of Utrecht (1713), Canada included all of present British America, and more. At that time Hudson Bay and vicinity was restored to England by Louis XIV. Newfoundland and Acadia (Nova Scotia) were ceded to the English, and all right to the Iroquois country (New York) was renounced, reserving to France only the valleys of the St. Lawrence and the Mississippi. The easy conquest of Louisburg revived a hope that Canada might be conquered. Governor Shirley proposed to the ministers to have the task performed by a colonial army alone. They would not comply, for the colonists, thus perceiving their own strength, might claim Canada by right of conquest, and become too independent; so they authorized an expedition for the purpose after the old plan of attacking that province by land and sea. An English fleet was prepared to go against Quebec; a land force, composed of troops from Connecticut, New York, and colonies farther south, gathered at
Harper's Encyclopedia of United States History (ed. Benson Lossing), Crown Point, (search)
unty, N. Y., 90 miles north of Albany, which was quite an important tradingstation between the English and the Indians until 1731, when the French took possession of the cape projecting into Lake Champlain on its western side, and built a military work there, which they called Fort Frederick. The plan of the campaign for 1755 in the French and Indian War contemplated an expedition against the French at Crown Point, to be commanded by William Johnson. He accomplished more than Braddock or Shirley, yet failed to achieve the main object of the expedition. The Assembly of New York had voted £8,000 towards the enlistment in Connecticut of 2,000 men for the Niagara and Crown Point expedition; and after hearing of Braddock's defeat, they raised 400 men of their own, in addition to 800 which they had already in the field. The troops destined for the northern expedition, about 6,000 in number, were drawn from New England, New Jersey, and New York. They were led by Gen. Phineas Lyman, of
Harper's Encyclopedia of United States History (ed. Benson Lossing), Franklin, Benjamin 1706-1790 (search)
sh subjects to the French. Dr. Franklin labored earnestly to this end, and in 1755 he went to Boston to confer with Governor Shirley on the subject. At the governor's house they discussed the subject long and earnestly. Shirley was favorable to unShirley was favorable to union, but he desired it to be effected by the fiat of the British government and by the spontaneous act of the colonists. Franklin, on the contrary, animated by a love of popular liberty, would not consent to that method of forming a colonial union. power was lodged with the people, and that a good government should be formed by the people for the people; and he left Shirley in disappointment. Shirley not only condemned the idea of a popular colonial government, but assured Franklin that he sShirley not only condemned the idea of a popular colonial government, but assured Franklin that he should immediately propose a plan of union to the ministry and Parliament, and also a tax on the colonies. In February, 1766, Dr. Franklin was examined before the House of Commons relative to the Stamp act (q. v.). At that examination he fairly
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