Colonial governor; born in
Portsmouth, N. H., Aug. 9, 1737; nephew of
Benning; graduated at Harvard College in 1755.
In 1766 he was sent to
England as agent of the province, when the
Marquis of
Rockingham procured his appointment as governor of
New Hampshire, which he held in 1767-75.
He was also appointed surveyor of the
King's woods, which was a lucrative office.
On the assumption of all political power by the Provincial Congress of New
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Hampshire, Sir John, the last royal governor, seeing his power depart, and fearing popular indignation, shut himself up in the fort at
Portsmouth, and his house was pillaged by a mob. He prorogued the Assembly (July, 1775), retired to
Boston, soon afterwards sailed to
England, and remained there until 1792, when he was made lieutenant-governor of
Nova Scotia.
He died in
Halifax, N. S., April 8, 1820.
