Harper's Encyclopedia of United States History
Benson Lossing, Ed.

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Wright, Sir James 1714-1785

Colonial governor; born in Charleston, S. C., about 1714; was admitted to the bar and practised in his native city; was made lieutenant-governor and chief-justice of South Carolina, May 13, 1760; became royal governor of Georgia in 1764, and was the last representative of the King to administer the affairs of that colony. His policy was acceptable to the people until he tried to enforce the provisions of the Stamp Act. The English vessel Speedwell arrived at Savannah with the stamped paper, Dec. 5, 1766. The “Liberty boys” endeavored to destroy this paper, but it was placed in Fort George, on Cockspur Island. Two years later the governor dismissed the Assembly after accusing it of insurrectionary conduct. In June, 1775, he tried to communicate with a number of British war-ships which had arrived at Tybee, but he was taken prisoner by Joseph Habersham. Later he escaped and reached the man-of-war Scarborough. Subsequently he returned to England, but in 1779, when the British held Savannah, he was ordered to resume his office. He permanently retired to England at the close of the war; was created a baronet in December, 1772. He died in London, England, Nov. 20, 1785.