Colonial governor; born in Nettleham,
Lincoln co.,
England, in 1714: was educated at
Oxford, where he was graduated in 1736.
The law was his chosen profession.
In 1758 he was appointed governor of
New Jersey; and in 1760 he was transferred to the chief magistracy of
Massachusetts, where he was a most obedient servant of the crown and ministry in the support of measures obnoxious to the colonists.
After a stormy administration of nearly nine years
Bernard was recalled, when he was created a baronet, chiefly because of his recommendation to transfer the right of selecting the governor's council from the colonial legislature to the crown.
Bernard was a friend of learning, and gave a part of his library to Harvard College.
He had become so thoroughly unpopular that when he left
Boston the bells were rung, cannon were fired, and “Liberty-tree” was hung with flags, in token of the joy of the people.
He died in
Aylesbury, England, June 16, 1779.