Francis Lovelace
Encyclopedia
Francis Lovelace was an English Royalist and the second Governor of New York colony.
He was born the third son of Sir William Lovelace (1584–1627) and his wife Anne Barne of Lovelace Place, Bethersden and Woolwich, Kent. He was the younger brother of Richard Lovelace
, the Cavalier poet. The Bethersden Lovelace lineage was founded in 1367 by John Lovelace, six generations before Francis, and has been confused over the years with the Hurley Lovelaces who were raised to the House of Lords
.
The five Lovelace brothers supported Charles II
in his fight to be restored to the throne. When Cromwell
was defeated, Charles gave his brother, the Duke of York (later to become King James II
), rights to the colony of Nieuw Amsterdam when Richard Nicolls took it from the Dutch in 1667. Many people did not like him because they thought Oliver Cromwell was their savior.
The Duke of York appointed Lovelace the second governor of the New York Colony in 1668 after the departure of Richard Nicolls
. His administration was terminated by the temporary re-capture of the colony by the Dutch in 1673 when, for a brief period the Dutch Admiral Cornelis Evertsen the youngest
captured New York and re-established Nieuw Amsterdam. From 1673 to 1674, Dutch naval Captain Anthony Colve
was military governor-general pro-tempore until the British
recaptured the colony.
Lovelace was meeting with the Governor of Connecticut, John Winthrop, Jr in Hartford, when the Dutch re-established Nieuw Amsterdam. He was planning the first postal system from New York to Boston. The Duke of York blamed Lovelace for the loss of his colony, confiscated his plantation on Staten Island, and shut him up in the Tower of London, where he contracted dropsy and died in penury two years later 1675.
The third new Governor of New York after Francis Lovelace was John Lovelace, 4th Baron Lovelace of Hurley
– no kin to Francis of the Bethersden Lovelaces. Early genealogists confused Francis with an identically named son of Richard Lovelace, 1st Baron Lovelace
of Hurley, due to a pamphlet issued at the time of his appointment mistakenly asserting that he was the brother of the said Richard. The confusion has also spread to more modern historians.
He was born the third son of Sir William Lovelace (1584–1627) and his wife Anne Barne of Lovelace Place, Bethersden and Woolwich, Kent. He was the younger brother of Richard Lovelace
Richard Lovelace
Richard Lovelace was an English poet in the seventeenth century. He was a cavalier poet who fought on behalf of the king during the Civil war. His best known works are To Althea, from Prison, and To Lucasta, Going to the Warres....
, the Cavalier poet. The Bethersden Lovelace lineage was founded in 1367 by John Lovelace, six generations before Francis, and has been confused over the years with the Hurley Lovelaces who were raised to the House of Lords
House of Lords
The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster....
.
The five Lovelace brothers supported Charles II
Charles II of England
Charles II was monarch of the three kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland.Charles II's father, King Charles I, was executed at Whitehall on 30 January 1649, at the climax of the English Civil War...
in his fight to be restored to the throne. When Cromwell
Oliver Cromwell
Oliver Cromwell was an English military and political leader who overthrew the English monarchy and temporarily turned England into a republican Commonwealth, and served as Lord Protector of England, Scotland, and Ireland....
was defeated, Charles gave his brother, the Duke of York (later to become King James II
James II of England
James II & VII was King of England and King of Ireland as James II and King of Scotland as James VII, from 6 February 1685. He was the last Catholic monarch to reign over the Kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland...
), rights to the colony of Nieuw Amsterdam when Richard Nicolls took it from the Dutch in 1667. Many people did not like him because they thought Oliver Cromwell was their savior.
The Duke of York appointed Lovelace the second governor of the New York Colony in 1668 after the departure of Richard Nicolls
Richard Nicolls
Richard Nicolls was the first English colonial governor of New York province....
. His administration was terminated by the temporary re-capture of the colony by the Dutch in 1673 when, for a brief period the Dutch Admiral Cornelis Evertsen the youngest
Cornelis Evertsen the Youngest
Cornelis Evertsen the Youngest is a Dutch admiral from the 17th century.Cornelis was the second son of Lieutenant-Admiral Cornelis Evertsen the Elder, nephew of Lieutenant-Admiral Johan Evertsen and cousin of the latter's son Vice-Admiral Cornelis Evertsen the Younger, with whom he is very often...
captured New York and re-established Nieuw Amsterdam. From 1673 to 1674, Dutch naval Captain Anthony Colve
Anthony Colve
Anthony Colve was a Captain and the Governor of New York during a brief restoration of rule by the Netherlands. He then became the third Governor of New Jersey....
was military governor-general pro-tempore until the British
Kingdom of England
The Kingdom of England was, from 927 to 1707, a sovereign state to the northwest of continental Europe. At its height, the Kingdom of England spanned the southern two-thirds of the island of Great Britain and several smaller outlying islands; what today comprises the legal jurisdiction of England...
recaptured the colony.
Lovelace was meeting with the Governor of Connecticut, John Winthrop, Jr in Hartford, when the Dutch re-established Nieuw Amsterdam. He was planning the first postal system from New York to Boston. The Duke of York blamed Lovelace for the loss of his colony, confiscated his plantation on Staten Island, and shut him up in the Tower of London, where he contracted dropsy and died in penury two years later 1675.
The third new Governor of New York after Francis Lovelace was John Lovelace, 4th Baron Lovelace of Hurley
Hurley, Berkshire
Hurley is a village and civil parish in the English county of Berkshire.Hurley is famous for its proximity to the River Thames. It is also within easy reach of Henley-on-Thames, Oxford and London. The parish includes the villages and hamlets of Cockpole Green, Warren Row, Knowl Hill, Burchett's...
– no kin to Francis of the Bethersden Lovelaces. Early genealogists confused Francis with an identically named son of Richard Lovelace, 1st Baron Lovelace
Richard Lovelace, 1st Baron Lovelace
Richard Lovelace, 1st Baron Lovelace was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons at various times between 1601 and 1622. He was raised to the peerage as Baron Lovelace in 1627....
of Hurley, due to a pamphlet issued at the time of his appointment mistakenly asserting that he was the brother of the said Richard. The confusion has also spread to more modern historians.