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.