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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 [376] relating to American affairs: and in 1774 he presented. as colonial agent, a petition to the King in council. He died in 1776.

Harper and Brothers Publishers. . New York. 1902.

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